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Wednesday, June 30

Howard unlikely to win international cricket presidency

Former Australian prime minister John Howard appears to have failed in his bid to become president of the International Cricket Council, opening the door to New Zealander Sir John Anderson. The Australian newspaper reports Mr Howard's candidacy for the vice-presidency has been rejected by six of the 10 major cricket nations in a letter to the ICC executive board meeting in Singapore. Zimbabwe did not sign the letter but is one of Mr Howard's most vocal opponents, because of his hardline stance against the Mugabe regime when he was Australia's leader. The position may be filled by Sir John, former chairman of the New Zealand Cricket board, and the man Mr Howard beat to become the Australasian candidate. The Australian says Mr Howard's only supporters were Australia, New Zealand and England.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Army barracks renamed after decorated war hero

Burnham Military Camp has renamed its infantry battalion barracks after VC winner Samuel Frickelton at a ceremony today. Frickelton's granddaughter Julia Tatum, flew from Hawkes Bay for the parade in honour of her grandfather, a decorated war hero. Frickleton was was awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery at the Battle of Messines in 1917. Frickleton's medals, which include the Victoria Cross,1914-1915 star, British war medal, Victory medal, Coronation medal 1937, and the New Zealand Service Medal, are held by the army museum in Waiouru.
The Press



Sir Ian wants more theatre in Wellington

By LAWRENCE HAKIWAI - NewstalkZB
Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen says he is back in his favourite New Zealand city hoping to add to the theatre culture. The English actor is back in Wellington performing in a series of performances of the tragic comedy, Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Sir Ian star feels there is a mutual appreciation between him and Wellingtonians. He says one thing he misses about Wellington is that although there is a lot of good local theatre, for someone who lives in London there is not enough.



Pensioners to get their own playgrounds

Elderly doing pull ups in the park may soon be a common sight in Dannevirke. The local Positive Aging Forum is lobbying for pensioners playgrounds and are in discussion with the Tararua District Council. Equipment could include a treadmill, a bar for the upper body and other gym related equipment. Forum spokeswoman Barbi Ormandy says she knows many elderly in Dannevirke who would use the playground. She says personally she loves the idea because when she headed into town she would use it. Ms Ormandy says it would give elderly the chance to address concerns like keeping themselves healthy, fit and to avoid having to need assistance from others.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Rugby silences rowdy vuvuzelas

By KEITH LYNCH and CHARLIE GATES - The Press
Vuvuzelas might be a major part of this year's football World Cup, but they will play no part in rugby's showpiece event next year in New Zealand. According to the Rugby World Cup website, "airhorns or sound amplifiers including loudhailers" and "musical instruments" and "whistles" are prohibited from next year's venues. Christchurch's AMI Stadium bosses are also considering a ban on vuvuzelas. "Given the experience at the soccer World Cup, I can't see that that sort of deafening drone is going to be in any way well received by fans at AMI Stadium they said."



Asians to make up 15pc of workforce by 2026

The Asian workforce in New Zealand is growing at a rate where it will make up 15 per cent of the country's total workforce by 2026, new research shows. Employment Minister Paula Bennett said the new Department of Labour report described the Asian population as highly qualified, youthful and entrepreneurial, and showed its workforce was emerging as an important part of New Zealand's changing labour market. According to the report, half of working age Asians are between 15 and 34 years old, likely to be university educated and working professionally. New Zealand's Asian population more than doubled between 1996 and the 2006 census, which showed Asians made up the fourth-largest major group of ethnicities here after European, Maori and other.
NZPA



Where can you walk in NZ? Access body to map public land

The national Walking Access Commission says it is producing a mapping system so that people can more easily find out where there is legal public access across land. "The current system is complicated," said commission chairman John Acland. "It's not easy for people to find information on where they can go on publicly-owned land, or who to contact to ask for permission to access privately-owned land." The commission expected to complete the mapping project this year. "That should make a difference," said Mr Acland, whose commission today released guidelines for access to the nation's beaches, waterways, and mountains.
NZPA



NZ schools networking in the US

Representatives of a number of schools are representing New Zealand at an international boys' school conference in the United States. The Inventions in Teaching conference began this week in Philadelphia. Almost 300 schools from around the world are represented. Auckland Grammar School principal John Morris is one of just eight delegates from New Zealand. He says most of the schools are independent, but a number within the New Zealand contingent are state schools.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Will silver eye be knocked off perch?

The battle is on between the silver eye and the house sparrow to take out this year's title of most common bird. Landcare Research is asking people to take part in the nationwide survey this week by recording the number of birds visiting their garden. Research associate Dr Eric Spurr says results have already started coming in and there seems to be a battle for the top spot. He says in the early years of the survey, the silver eye was the most common bird, but in the last two years the sparrow has been top of the roost. So far this year, the silver eye seems to be back on top again. Dr Spurr says the survey can be completed on the Landcare Research website.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



NZ turns down Anzac force request

The Government has rejected a request from Australia to take part in a joint Anzac force in Afghanistan. New Zealand troops would have been stationed in Uruzgan province helping the Australians train the Afghan army, a more dangerous role than the work New Zealand's provincial reconstruction team is responsible for in Bamyan. Prime Minister John Key says the proposal didn't fit with the Government's strategy in Afghanistan, but says it is considering placing support staff in the Australian army's headquarters in Kabul.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Tuesday, June 29

August tipped for Australian election

There is increasing speculation that the new prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, will call an election soon. Labor candidates in branches in Victoria have been told to prepare for an election in the first two weeks of August. Insiders have told the ABC that Ms Gillard has been advised to strike while the iron is hot and while the opinion polls favour Labor. An early announcement would also give the Opposition less time to consolidate its campaign against the new leader.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Rare kiwi moved to multiply

Three pairs of the rarest kiwi have been moved from their natural habitat to a new home for the first time to encourage breeding. Until now, the critically endangered rowi, of which there are only about 350, were found only in Okarito on the West Coast. The Department of Conservation on Tuesday released three pairs, which have not yet bred, on the predator-free Blumine Island in the Marlborough Sounds. DOC's Franz Josef biodiversity programme manager, Jim Livingstone, says it is hoped the warmer climate, food-rich soils and lack of predators will motivate the birds to reproduce.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Fat Albert the forest gecko stolen

By LAWRENCE HAKIWAI - NewstalkZB
The only surviving gecko from a lizard heist in Northland four years ago, has been stolen along with six other forest geckoes. Their enclosure at KiwiNorth Museum and Heritage Park in Whangarei, was smashed when staff arrived at work this morning. KiwiNorth director Sue Walters, says Fat Albert, was a real favourite with the staff. "Last year he fell sick and he was nursed back to health with extra helpings of flies and moths." Ms Walters says although there have been a couple of high-profile lizard thefts and incidents of smuggling recently, she is not sure why the park's would have been particularly targeted and she is urging anyone who knows where the geckoes might be, to contact Whangarei police.



Bonding Attracts Midwives & Nurses To C&CDHB

The Government has announced that more than 500 applications have been accepted for the second intake in the voluntary bonding scheme for recent health graduates. There are 13 midwives and 34 nurses who intend to work in a hard to staff specialty in the Capital and Coast District Health Board region who have signed up. Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "We budgeted for 350 graduates signing up this year, but received 500 applications and we've accepted them all. From both intakes, we've now signed up around 1,400 graduates." The Government introduced voluntary bonding as a way to encourage young doctors, nurses and midwives to work in hard to staff regions and specialties. The voluntary bonding scheme encourages health graduates to establish careers in hard to staff specialities and communities in New Zealand by offering student loan write-offs or cash incentives over three to five years.



Bee Gee coming to Christchurch

By VICKI ANDERSON - The Press
One of the infamously falsetto-voiced trio, Robin Gibb, has announced a three date New Zealand tour, including a show at the CBS Canterbury Arena on Friday, November 12. As part of his Bee Gees Greatest Hits tour, Gibb will perform with the Pointer Sisters, comprising sisters Anita and Ruth with Ruth's granddaughter, Sadako. Gibb, who has maintained a successful solo career, last performed in New Zealand in 1999 when he played to more than 60,000 people in Auckland's Western Springs, one of the largest concert attendances in New Zealand history. It's been a long time, but I'm really, really pleased to be coming back one more time to play for the New Zealand fans,'' Gibb says.



Ice grip on deep south

The deep south is shivering in winter's icy grip today, with temperatures below freezing at midday. WeatherWatch.co.nz reports the temperature was still at -2 in Queenstown at 12.30pm and -1 at Lumsden in Southland. It is just one degree in Wanaka but the temperature in Gore and Invercargill climbed to three degrees by 2pm. Dunedin is a little warmer on six degrees and Christchurch is on seven degrees. In contrast, the North Island is relatively balmy with 16 degrees in Napier, Gisborne and Whangarei.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Women sought for engineering courses

Auckland University is showing off the creative side of engineering in an effort to attract more women to the male dominated profession. More than 250 girls from North Island high schools would attend a university open day on July 1 showing that engineering could be creative and make a global difference, the university's engineering equity adviser Robyn MacLeod said today. "So many girls don't realise the creative opportunities that engineering leads to, and the chances it creates to make a real difference to people's lives," she said. Female students only made up 22 percent of engineering undergraduates at the university hoped to raise this to 50 percent, she said.
NZPA



Cadets sail to Noumea

By TRACY NEAL - The Nelson Mail
It's goodbye Nelson and bonjour Noumea for six Nelson sea cadets about to set sail for New Caledonia. The TS Talisman cadets plan to untether the 15-metre yacht Simply Wild from the Nelson marina on Friday and sail for the Pacific French territory, which they expect to reach after two weeks. Cadet unit commander sub-lieutenant Milo Coldren, who owns the yacht, believes it will be the first time a sea cadet unit in New Zealand has embarked on such an ambitious offshore journey. "We are doing this to provide an opportunity for these teenagers to show that with dreams, perserverance and hard work, they can do just about anything," Mr Coldren said.



NZ women have skewed body image

Find it hard keeping up with the exercise? You are not alone. A survey just out from Good Health magazine has found four out of 10 women cannot stick to an exercise regime for any length of time. Editor Shelley Ferguson says part of the problem is New Zealand women have an all-or-nothing attitude. She says rather than telling themselves they can not run for an hour, they should do a 20 minute walk. The survey also shows kiwi women have a distorted body image. Three quarters of the more than 600 women surveyed believe they are overweight. However, Ms Ferguson says many who think they are overweight are not, according to their body mass index.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Huge uptake on home insulation scheme

A $320 million initiative to insulate homes is far exceeding the government's expectations. Launched in the 2009 Budget, the aim was to insulate around 27,000 houses in its first year. Prime Minister John Key says that target has nearly been doubled. Mr Key says a function in Christchurch on Thursday will mark 50,000 homes being retrofitted.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Rare Napoleonic memorabilia goes under the hammer

Phone bidders from around the world are expected to take part in an auction of rare Napoleonic memorabilia in Auckland tonight. The collection, which includes a lock of hair cut off French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte the day after he died in 1821, was expected to bring between $150,000 and $300,000, said Hamish Coney from the Auckland auction house Art+Object. The collection had never been seen in public before and had been held for 200 years by descendants of Denzil Ibbetson, the commissionary officer on the island of St Helena during Napoleon's incarceration and death. The collection was brought to New Zealand by Ibbetson's first son, Frederick, in 1864 and passed through three subsequent generations until the last member of its male line died several years ago.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Drilling starts at new oil well off Taranaki

Oil exploration companies have begun drilling a new well off the coast of Taranaki. The Kan Tan IV on Monday began drilling the Kahu well, east of the Tui oil field. The well is being drilled in a water depth of 122 metres and is expected to reach a depth of 3820 metres.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Fiji Times owner angered at 'sell or close' ruling

The owner of the Fiji Times says it is outraged about the interim Fiji Government's decree that gives Rupert Murdoch's Australian arm three months to sell or close the newspaper. The decree forces the paper to be 90% locally owned within three months and follows tough new restrictions imposed on Fiji's media. The interim regime's leader, Frank Bainimarama, has been tightening controls on the media since he overthrew the elected government in a 2006 coup. News Ltd chairman and chief executive John Hartigan described the decree as an appalling assault on free speech and a terrible blow for the fragile economy of Fiji.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Monday, June 28

Netball-Magic clinch prelim final berth

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic have battled past the Southern Steel 50-42 to win the ANZ Championship minor semi-final. The Magic led Monday night's encounter at Vector Arena in Auckland by three goals at halftime before taking a stranglehold in the fourth quarter. For Waikato/Bay of Plenty, the victory means they go on to meet the NSW Swifts in the preliminary final on Sunday. The winner of that match-up wins the right to go up against the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the grand final.
Source: ONE Sport



PM to visit China, Korea and Vietnam

Prime Minister John Key will next month visit China, Vietnam and the Republic of Korea, his office announced today. Mr Key's visit to Korea and Vietnam will be his first to both countries as Prime Minister. His trip to China will be his second. While in the Republic of Korea, Mr Key will hold a summit meeting with President Lee Myung-bak to discuss the current free trade negotiations, security on the Korean Peninsula and Korea's preparations to host the G20 Summit in November. Mr Key will visit the Republic of Korea from July 4 to July 7, China from July 7 to July 10 and Vietnam from July 10 to 12, his office said.
ANZ Herald staff



Sugar Ray Leonard to visit Waikato

American boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard is to visit Waikato. Leonard will be giving a motivational talk to hundreds of the region's students, and will also speak at a charity dinner and have lunch with Maori King Tuheitia. Leonard has headed to Queenstown for its Winter Festival, where he was guest of honour at last night's Thriller in the Chiller fight night. Leonard was one of the best boxers of all time, winning world titles in five weight divisions and being named fighter of the decade for the 1980s.
NZPA



Report slams Maori agribusiness trust

A review of a $3 million project to boost exports by Maori businesses is recommending it be overhauled but not scrapped. The review of the Tekau Plus Maori Agribusiness Project was commissioned by Te Puni Kokiri - the Ministry of Maori Development. It found no evidence of anyone exporting anything as a result of the project, despite it being authorised to spend more than half its money before the ministry suspended it last November. The review also found Tekau Plus was not governed properly, with its advisory board, its administrative arm and even two companies targeted for assistance being run by the same people.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



NZ warship visiting mainland ports in US

In a sign of improving defence links between Washington and Wellington, a New Zealand warship is visiting mainland ports in the United States for the first time in 25 years. Te Kaha Commander Commodore Matthew Williams says he is pleased with the trip. When former PM David Lange banned nuclear armed or powered warship visiting New Zealand ports in 1989, the nuclear-free zone meant defence ties with the US were also frozen, with New Zealand excluded from the ANZUS military alliance. But New Zealand's ambassador to the US believes a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, thanks to New Zealand's contribution to the US-led War on Terror. "Our military are already doing a lot together in Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Source: ONE News



Ford Falcon celebrates 50 years

The first Australasian Ford Falcon rolled off the production line 50 years ago today, and to celebrate, Ford is releasing a series of limited edition commemorative models. The commemorative models include the Falcon G Series and XR models, with six individual variants available in the sedan and ute. Falcon has become a staple of the motoring landscape in New Zealand and is the longest running vehicle nameplate in Australian motoring history. Since the launch of the first Falcon XK, Ford has produced 27 different models of the Falcon in Australia and New Zealand. Ford New Zealand assembled Falcons at the Ford Wiri plant from 1973 until the early 1990s. Since then, all Falcons in New Zealand have been imported from Australia.
Source: ONE News



Australia's Gillard excludes Rudd from cabinet

Australia's new prime minister has passed over her predecessor Kevin Rudd in a limited cabinet reshuffle. Julia Gillard announced her new frontbench line-up on Monday, after wresting the leadership from Mr Rudd last week. She said he would be welcome to take up a senior cabinet position if Labor is re-elected to government. She told reporters in Canberra the reshuffle was kept to a minimum, to maintain the government's stability. The new Cabinet is otherwise little changed from Mr Rudd's front bench.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



No smoking in prisons - it's official

By LAWRENCE HAKIWAI - NewstalkZB
The Government has confirmed that prison inmates will have to kick their nicotine habit. In an effort to stub out smoking in the country's prisons Corrections Minister Judith Collins says a blanket smokefree policy will apply to all prisons from next July. There will be no smoking allowed anywhere at any time in prisons. Ms Collins says support will be given to help inmates give up their smoking habits.



UK immigration limit should not affect many NZers

New Zealanders look likely to be largely unaffected by a crackdown on immigration into Britain. Britain is proposing a temporary limit on the number of non-European Union migrants ahead of a permanent cap being introduced next April. The aim is to block an influx ahead of the cap, and is expected to cut immigration numbers by 5%. Details have not yet been finalised, but the crackdown is not expected to affect New Zealanders because it not aimed at people on working holidays nor those with an ancestral right to move to the UK. The British High Commission in Wellington says the proposal will apply only to people formally emigrating to the UK.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



New Zealand 'crab capital of the world'

New Zealand is the crab capital of the world, according to a scientist who has formally described 14 species that are new to science. A major study from New Zealand, Australia and the Ross Sea regions has just been completed. A total of 23 species has been found as well as almost double the number of previously known species from the area. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) scientist Dr Shane Ahyong said New Zealand was "the crab capital of the world." "There are 23 king crab species in this part of the world, and only about 30 species of king crab in the entire Atlantic Ocean," Ahyong said.
NZPA



NZ "too soft" on body image rules

Local women's health experts want the government to toughen up and follow the lead set in Australia to encourage healthy sized models. Australian Youth Minister Kate Ellis announced a voluntary code of conduct on Sunday that will dissuade organisations from digitally enhancing images and encourage them to tell consumers when the image has been altered. The code encourages the use of healthy sized models over the age of 16 and asks fashion retailers to stock a wider variety of sizes for their customers. Minister of Youth Affairs Paula Bennett backed the initiative and said it targeted health issues that were on her radar, according to reports.
Source: AAP



Get off the couch, young Maori told

Young Maori are being told to get off the couch and out into the real world. A Maori youth physical activity programme is underway at Wainuiomata Marae this afternoon. Rangatahi Tu Rangatira will use traditional sports to get Maori more active and encourage leadership skills. Mania King, chronic diseases manager for Health and Disability National Services says the programme will help to tackle New Zealand's obesity epidemic. The programme will be rolled out to five other main centres around the country following its launch in Wellington.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Charities Comm cuts Greenpeace's status

By Brodie Kane - NewstalkZB
Greenpeace is taking the Charities Commission to court after it lost its status as a charity. The organisation was handed the commission's final decision in May and can no longer call itself a registered charitable entity or be eligible for income tax exemption. However, the organisation's executive director, Bunny McDiarmid, says has lodged an appeal with the High Court and a hearing is expected in the next few months.



Nats testing water for sale of SOEs?

Labour is suspicious of work being done to assess the public's view on partial privatisation of state assets. The Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit is undertaking the task at the request of Treasury. Labour Party Finance spokesman David Cunliffe claims the Government's motivations are clear. He says it is obvious National intends privatising state assets if it is re-elected. Mr Cunliffe says the Monitoring Unit's actions are a pre-cursor to that.
© 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB



New High Commissioner to Tonga named

Career diplomat Jonathan Austin has been named New Zealand's High Commissioner to Tonga, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says. Dr Austin, who is foreign affairs advisor to Mr McCully, will take up the position in August. Current High Commissioner Christine Bogle will return to Wellington.
NZPA



60 whales counted off NSW coast

Sixty whales have been spotted off the south coast of New South Wales in an annual whale census. The northerly migration has begun for the southern right and humpback whales. The end of June is traditionally the busiest time. The ABC reports volunteers gathered at a lighthouse bordering Jervois Bay on Sunday to count the whales.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Doctors urge review of over-the-counter drugs

A group of doctors from Capital & Coast District Health Board is calling for a review into whether medicines combining codeine with anti-inflammatory drugs should continue to be sold over the counter. The group says it has seen a rise in admissions for codeine addiction since medicines like Nurofen Plus became available. In an article in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the doctors looked at seven patients admitted to the Kenepuru hospital's detoxification unit in the past two years. Their dependence on codeine was apparent in their excessive use of Nurofen Plus. The medicine also contained ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory which was the likely cause of the patients' other aliments, including gastric ulcers.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Sunday, June 27

TV Viewers choose 9/11 as biggest news event

The destruction of New York's Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 has been voted the most memorable news event in the past 50 years by TVNZ viewers. The 9/11 terrorist attacks were nominated by the single biggest group of viewers, significantly ahead of Princess Diana's death in 1997 and the 1969 Moon Landing. The most memorable local events were the Wahine Disaster, the Erebus Disaster and the America's Cup win 1995, viewers said. The votes were gathered ahead of a TVNZ two-hour special remembering the most significant news events of the past half century, which broadcast on TV ONE tonight.
Source: ONE News



Thunderbirds upset Swifts in trans-Tasman netball semis

The Adelaide Thunderbirds have upset the New South Wales Swifts by 52 points to 38 in their trans-Tasman netball semi-final in Sydney. The Swifts, the undefeated minor premiers, now have to get past the winner of Monday night's all-New Zealand derby in Auckland, where the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and the Southern Steel will fight it out for a place in the preliminary final. The Thunderbirds now get two weeks off to prepare to face the winner of that game in the final.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Rugby-All Black squad for Tri-Nations named

Front rowers John Afoa and Corey Flynn, loosie Liam Messam and second five Ma'a Nonu return to the All Black squad of 28 named for the Tri Nations. Those missing out from the June series against Ireland and Wales are Aled de Malmanche, Neemia Tialata, Adam Thomson and Zac Guildford. The All Blacks squad will begin preparations with a two-day camp in Auckland later this week. The All Blacks first Test of the Tri Nations is the sold-out Test against South Africa at Eden Park on July 10th.
All Blacks squad for Tri-Nations: Forwards: John Afoa (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Tasman), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Richie McCaw (capt - Canterbury), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Liam Messam (Waikato), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Victor Vito (Wellington), Sam Whitelock (Canterbury), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour). Backs: Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Aaron Cruden (Manawatu), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Rene Ranger (Northland), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Benson Stanley (Auckland), Piri Weepu (Wellington).
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Beach protest held against oil exploration

Protesters took to the beaches beaches from the eastern Bay of Plenty to Gisborne at midday on Sunday in opposition to offshore oil exploration. The Brazilian company Petrobras has been granted a permit by the Government to explore the Raukumara Basin off East Cape. Protest organisers say there is widespread concern on the East Coast, about the environmental risks of an oil drilling operation in the Raukumara Basin off East Cape. They claim Petrobras has a disastrous environmental record.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Australian population policy to be refined

Australia's new prime minister Julia Gillard intends to put the brakes on the government's population policy for the country. Last year, her predecessor Kevin Rudd said he was in favour of population growth. The ABC reports the government predicted the population would reach around 36 million by 2050, largely through immigration. Mr Rudd even appointed a population minister, whose title will now change to minister for sustainable population. Miss Gillard told Fairfax that "Australia should not hurtle down the track towards a big population. "We need to stop, take a breath and develop policies for a sustainable Australia.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Costly King Lear

A teacher sacked for teaching an unauthorised version of King Lear has been ordered to pay $4400 costs. Suzette Martin, 40, was sacked from Westmount School, Kerikeri for teaching a modern version of the tragedy without permission. She lost her unfair dismissal case and is ordered to pay costs to the trust that runs the school.
Copyright 2010, APN Holdings NZ Limited



Prisons to be smoke-free

New Zealand's prisons will be smoke-free from next year. Corrections Minister Judith Collins is expected to announce a 12-month preparation plan, leading up to smoking being banned in prisons by next July. She has instructed staff to investigate a ban, and how successful they are overseas. The Department is concerned taxpayers could be liable for lawsuits from prison officers exposed to inmates' second-hand smoke.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Saturday, June 26

Rugby-All Blacks beat Wales 29 to 10

The All Blacks have kept their 57-year record intact by beating Wales at Waikato stadium in Hamilton on Saturday night. The New Zealand side won 29 to 10. The Welsh finally scored a try against the All Blacks for the first time in five years. New Zealand now head into the Tri-Nations with their first match against South Africa at Eden Park in Auckland on 10 July. All Blacks coach Graham Henry will name the team on Sunday. Wales have played the All Blacks 25 times since 1905 and have won only three games, the last in 1953. The team heads home on Sunday.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Lunar eclipse tonight

By Jacqui Stanford - NewstalkZB
A partial lunar eclipse will be visible right across parts of the Americas, Asia and the Pacific tonight. From about 10.15pm, the full moon will start to move into the earth's shadow. Around 11.40pm, it will be at its furtherest point inside the shadow. The whole process will end at around 1am Sunday. Stardome Observatory astronomer Grant Christie says any cloud tonight may not be a problem, as long as it is not too thick, as the full moon is quite bright. He says the entire Western Pacific will have a good view, as the moon will be high in the sky during mid-eclipse.



Aust-Labor up since change of leader - poll

New polling in Australia shows a rise in support for the Labor Party since Julia Gillard became Prime Minister on Thursday. In the latest Herald/Nielson poll, Labor's primary vote has climbed to 47%, while support for the Coalition has fallen 1 point to 42%. The ABC reports Ms Gillard has a lead of 21 percentage points over Opposition Leader Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Queenstown winter festival begins

More than 40,000 people are in Queenstown for the start of the new ski season and an annual winter festival. The festival, which began on Friday night, brings almost $20 million into the town's economy. Festival director Simon Green says the event is a major draw card for the Australian tourist market, and announces to the world that Queenstown is open for winter.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Family overjoyed at finding long-lost relative

An elderly homeless woman who has been living rough in Hawaii, is to be reunited with her family in Bay of Plenty. The Helmbright family recognised their long lost Aunty Ethel (known only as "Josie May" by authorities)immediately from a photograph on the internet, posted by her state-appointed guardian in Hawaii. Consular officials are still trying to confirm her identity, but family members say they have no doubts. A niece has told Radio New Zealand the family is amazed at the turn of events and hopes to bring her home as soon as possible.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



New waka to go to museum in Holland

A new waka (canoe) destined for a museum in the Netherlands was launched on Saturday at Aurere, in the Bay of Islands. It was created by the master waka builder Hector Busby and is to be part of an exhibition at Volkenkunde museum in Leiden. The ceremonial waka will be on permanent loan to the museum and will remain as a working exhibition, which will be jointly cared for with the Njord Royal Rowing Club. Toi Maori operations manager Tamahou Temara, says the waka will be officially handed over to Volkenkunde museum in October. It is 14 metres long and carries up to 18 people. It will be part of an exhibition on the relationship between Holland and Maori since 1642, when Abel Tasman arrived in New Zealand.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Intelligence agreement details revealed

Newly de-classified documents reveal details of New Zealand's part in a top-secret intelligence sharing agreement with the United States and Britain. The files show that New Zealand and Australia joined what was called the UK-USA Agreement in 1956, 10 years after the two major powers first reached a deal. Canada joined in 1948. The agreement was without precedent and remains the basis of sharing intelligence gathering by the five countries. The British National Archives says the agreement stemmed from what went on during World War II and afterwards in the context of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Weather warning issued

Updated at 6:09am on 26 June
A severe weather warning has been issued from Auckland to Marlborough. MetService says there is a possibility of heavy rain and severe gale southerlies from Taranaki to Wellington. Meteorologist Bob McDavitt says southerly winds through Cook Strait are likely to peak on Saturday night and may reach severe gale force in exposed places about the Kaikoura coast, outer Marlborough Sounds and Wellington.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Harvard University fund bids for Otago farm

A multibillion-dollar global investment fund of Harvard University in the United States is poised to buy the Big Sky Dairy Farm in Central Otago for $28 million. The offer is subject to Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval. The $28 million sale price has been confirmed by several industry sources. If the OIO approves the sale, Harvard will combine Big Sky's annual output of 1.1 million kg of milk solids (kg/ms) with another dairy farm it owns in the district to produce about 1.8 million kg a year by 2013. The $28 million Big Sky price tag is understood to cover land and improvements, stock, plant and Fonterra shares. The two farms would be owned by a US-registered company and separately managed by a contracted New Zealand company, with the intention all staff would be retained.
Otago Daily Times



Women taking over Australia: Ramos-Horta

East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta says women seem to have taken over Australia. He's also glad his country doesn't have a vice president, and a female one at that. Ramos-Horta concluded his week-long tour of Australia in Sydney on Friday with a function hosted by NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, the state's first female premier. He noted the rise of women to the nation's top political posts and in particular the ascension of Julia Gillard, sworn in as Australia's new prime minister yesterday by the nation's first female governor-general, Quentin Bryce. East Timor's president spent the day touring Sydney, meeting with NSW's female governor, Marie Bashir, and visiting St Vincent's Hospital.
Source: AAP



Soccer-Agent cautions over All Whites job offers

A top Australian football agent has damped growing speculation of job prospects for some of the All Whites, saying their age and defensive style of football might go against them. The team has dipped out of the Football World Cup in South Africa unbeaten, after drawing nil-all with Paraguay. Players have been non-committal about their futures. The Head of football at Elite Sports Properties in Melbourne, Ritchie Hinton, says 21-year-old defender Winston Reid would be the pick of the bunch for top-tier club offers. He says the defenders kept out some of world's top teams, but most are in their 30s, which is too old for international offers.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Friday, June 25

Coromandel Peninsula flooding prompts warning to motorists

Motorists should avoid driving to the Coromandel Peninsula because of flooding on the roads, say police. State Highway 25 is closed in several places on the peninsula after 160 millimetres of rain fell in the past 24 hours. Another 90mm is expected before Saturday morning. Police say the area from the one-lane bridge at Marae Road to Goldfields Road, just south of Coromandel, is under half a metre of water and things are predicted to get worse. Caution is also being advised along other parts of State Highway 25 between Thames and Hikuai. Manaia Road, Te Rerenga and Mcleods Straight near Whitianga are closed. Hauraki District Council says the peninsula is cut off and motorists should avoid driving. Heavy rain is expected in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay in the next few days.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Farmers safe for five years, says Key of emissions scheme

Agriculture is unlikely to be included in the emissions trading scheme in the next five years, Prime Minister John key told a farmers group on Friday. The scheme comes into effect on 1 July, when the energy and manufacturing sectors have to start paying for their greenhouse gas emissions. The agriculture sector is due to be fully included in 2015. Mr Key told the Federated Farmers national conference in Invercargill on Friday that unless the country's agricultural trading partners made a similar move, farmers in New Zealand would not be expected to pay for their livestock emissions.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



World-first test helps babies survive

Canterbury researchers have designed a world-first glucose test that will help save the lives of premature babies. Otago University researchers in Christchurch have designed a system for predicting the glucose levels of premature babies, enabling them to get life-saving treatment sooner. The system, which has been evaluated over the past two years, will be introduced in the Christchurch Women's Hospital neonatal unit this month. Co-researcher Dr Geoff Shaw said the project would "help save the lives of premature babies". It was a collaborative effort, with Canterbury University engineers designing the computer model that measured the infants' insulin needs, he said. Christchurch Women's Hospital neonatal specialist Dr Adrienne Lynn said very small babies could not regulate their blood-sugar levels. Babies with high levels had worse outcomes. Before the new programme, it was not known how much insulin a baby needed. "By bringing blood sugars into the normal range, it helps fight off infection and they are better protected from having bleeding in the brain."
The Press



Top award for Healthy Food Guide

Independently published magazine Healthy Food Guide has beaten the big players to win best magazine of the year. The Magazine Publishers Association awards were held last night. Healthy Food Guide managing director Phil Ryan is thrilled to have achieved the supreme award after five years of hard work. The magazine was also named the winner in the home, food and garden magazine category.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Korean War vets remember 60 years on

Korean War veterans will gather in Wellington today to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the war. Wreaths will be laid at the National War Memorial at 11am, as a sign of respect for the men who lost their lives. Korean Veterans Association national secretary Doug Callander says although it is often referred to as the forgotten war, it is not to those who served.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Opening day at Cardrona

The fourth of the Southern Lakes' main ski fields opens for business today. The Cardrona ski field between Arrowtown and Wanaka will be opening with a good coat of snow thanks to this week's cold front. Around 400 people will be working at the ski field this season and have been undergoing a rigorous training programme.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Russian scare fort in disrepair

A meeting is planned to protect a coastal artillery battery, which was built to protect Wellington from invasion by Russia, from falling into further disrepair. Fort Ballance, which is located by Mt Crawford, Karaka Bay, was built in 1885, but is overgrown, covered in graffiti and broken bottles litter the area. Alan Probert from Enterprise Miramar says the site is owned by the Defence Force and needs to be cleaned up to reflect its place of national historic significance. He believes it should become a reserve. A meeting will be held to discuss how to protect the site. Fort Ballance was Wellington's primary military fort until 1911and was closed in 1945. The so-called "scare fort" was one of several built around New Zealand in response to fears of an attack by Russia.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Family recognises 'Josie May'

By MICHAEL FIELD - Stuff
Urgent efforts are underway to confirm the identity of New Zealander's "Josie May", an elderly homeless woman in Hawaii who cannot remember her real name. "Josie May", whose real name is believed to be Ethel, has been living in bushes for over 10 years in Honolulu. She is a patient at Honolulu's Queen Medical Centre and keeps asking staff to get her home to New Zealand. Her family contacted Stuff news after seeing her picture in our story yesterday. Stuff has passed the information to authorities in Honolulu who are making contact with the family to establish identity. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said they have also been contacted by a family member who has asked that no other information be released. The family are convinced that Josie May is Ethel and she belongs to a large and widespread family and is the only survivor of her generation. She had left for Alaska 20 years ago and as her generation passed away, contact was lost. "We want to bring her home," a niece said.



1888 rugby tour movie recognised at Montreal Festival

A short film based on the 1888 New Zealand Natives rugby tour of Great Britain has won second prize at the Montreal First Peoples film festival in Canada. Warbrick, by brothers Meihana and Pene Durie from Rangitane, tells the story of how captain Joe Warbrick inspires his exhausted teammates to take the field against England.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Talks on quarantine of elephants for Auckland zoo on Niue

Elephants from Auckland zoo could be quarantined in Niue later this year. Exploratory talks are being held with the zoo about establishing an offshore quarantine station on land near the airport on the island. Minister of Agriculture Pokotoa Sipeli says he's due to meet Auckland zoo officials for a second time about the possibility of quarantining three elephants. Auckland zoo says it is still working through its options about where elephants suitable for transfer to New Zealand may be available and what the quarantine requirements would be.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Township for sale: price $1 million

The entire township of Otira in the South Island is on the market. It has a price tag of $1 million. The 20-hectare townshhip includes a pub, an old school, a fire station and 18 houses. Chistine Hennah and her husband Bill Hennah bought the pub and the township, 12 years ago. Mrs Hennah says they still want to stay in Otira, but are keen to sell the pub because they want to retire
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Soccer-New Zealand's world cup is over

New Zealand's participation at the World Cup is over after drawing nil-all with Paraguay in their final Group F match in Polokwane. Slovakia beat Italy 3-2 in the other group match to finish second in the standings behind Paraguay. Paraguay finished top with 5 points, Slovakia 4, New Zealand 3 and defending world champions Italy 2. It means New Zealand finish the World Cup unbeaten after 3 draws. It also means that the two finalists from the last tournament, Italy and France, have been eliminated after group play.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



College bequeathed millions by stranger

A high school just north of Auckland has received a surprise gift of almost $3 million which it will use to help send students to university. The principal of Orewa College announced to students today that they have been left $2.9 million to establish scholarships by Allan William Shaw - a man who no one has ever met. "He didn't come to this school he didn't know any of us and he's given us all this money and we are so thankful for it," says one pupil. Through his will, a charity has been set up with the Public Trust which will send four Orewa pupils a year to tertiary education for the length of their study. Shaw is described as a very private man, so private that Public Trust was not even able to find a photo of him.
Source: ONE News



Thursday, June 24

Triumphant Gillard pays tribute to rejected Rudd

Australia's first woman prime minister used her first question time as leader in Parliament to pay tribute to her predecessor. On a sensational day in Australian political history, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - riding high in the polls only months ago - lost his position to his deputy Julia Gillard at a Labor Party caucus. Ms Gillard praised Mr Rudd for having the courage to be in the chamber on the day he lost the leadership. "He certainly has the gratitude and respect of the Labor Party," she said, "and I believe that every member of this place would be full of admiration for the remarkable and dignified way in which he has conducted himself today." Earlier, Mr Rudd had struggled to hold back tears as he listed the achievements he was proud of in his two and a half years as Prime Minister - such as providing extra social housing, building regional centres for cancer treatment and the apology to the "stolen generations" of Aboriginal people.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Black ice warnings for motorists

Southland and Central Otago motorists going out tonight or in the early morning, are being warned to expect ice and black ice on the roads. Another big frost is expected in the South Island after a fine crisp day today, with the expected overnight low of -4 in Invercargill, -3 in Queenstown and -5 in Alexandra.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Mystery homeless woman a New Zealander?

By MICHAEL FIELD - Stuff
An elderly woman known only as "Josie May" who was been living in bushes for over 10 years in Honolulu is almost certainly a New Zealander who wants to come home. Her picture has appeared Hawaii statewide today as Honolulu's Queen's Medical Center, where she is a patient, tries to get her home. "She keeps asking us to go home and we are trying to help her go home," social worker Teri Kalama told Stuff. "She says she wants to go back to New Zealand, so we say we need your name so we can help you, and she cannot say." Homeless for at least 10 years, she has no documentation. She suffers some degree of dementia and is unable to remember who she is. Ms Kalama says they estimate Josie May is around 70. "She has talked always about places and things in New Zealand. She has mentioned cities like Hamilton, Dunedin Auckland, more than just a casual tourist. "She mentions always she wants to go back home, go to New Zealand." "She looks Maori, I thought that myself and asking her, she denies that. She says she is not social worker Teri Kalama said." Medical staff believe she is.



Samoas head of state flown to NZ for medical reasons

Samoa’s head of state, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, is in New Zealand medical reasons. The 72 year-old head of state was admitted to the Tupua Tamasese Mea’ole hospital in Samoa’s capital Apia, before being flown to New Zealand. He was accompanied by his wife, a government official, as well as a medical doctor. Reports say Tui Atua has already undergone several medical checks and is recovering well in Auckland.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International



Maori TV's wide popularity attracts British researcher

By Elizabeth Binning
British student Richard Turner is so impressed with Maori Television he has travelled to New Zealand to find out why it's so successful - especially with Pakeha viewers. The Massey University masters student watched Maori TV online while as part of his media studies in England. Fascinated by its popularity - latest ratings show three-quarters of the station's two million viewers are non-Maori - he decided to pursue it further and has based his thesis research on the subject. Mr Turner, who is at Massey's Albany campus on a scholarship, is working on two possible theories for the station's success with non-Maori viewers. "One is that they are so disenchanted with the mainstream ... they are looking for an alternative. They want some homegrown programmes, things that are about themselves." "The flipside of the coin is that people are engaging with Maori TV because they want to learn about Maori culture. Mr Turner is keen to hear from Maori TV viewers about their views. He can be emailed at richard.turner@uni.massey.ac.nz



New Maori dairy venture under way

Work has started on preparing the site of a new Maori-owned milk powder plant in the central North Island. Two Maori farming trusts, Wairarapa Moana Incorporation and Tuaropaki Kaitiaki Ltd., have joined forces in the dairy processing and export venture. The plant is being built on farm land at Mokai, about 30km north-west of Taupo, in time to start processing milk in late July or early August next year. The chair of the dairy company Miraka Ltd., Kingi Smiler, says it will have the capacity to process about 1.1 million litres of milk a day at its peak.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



SAS to leave Afghanistan in March

New Zealand SAS troops stationed in Afghanistan will be pulled out of the country next year, as originally planned. The SAS was due to end its deployment in March, but after a secret visit to Afghanistan in May, Prime Minister John Key left open speculation that the SAS might extend its stay. However Defence Minister Wayne Mapp told a parliamentary select committee on Thursday the SAS unit based in Kabul will be withdrawn in March 2011.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Julia Gillard defeats Australian PM Kevin Rudd

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has stood down at the start of a caucus meeting where a ballot on his leadership was to have been held, and challenger Julia Gillard has been elected unopposed. The Prime Minister had hours of closed-door meetings with Ms Gillard, his former deputy, and senior ministers on Wednesday night. Despite telling a news conference overnight he was confident he would win the vote, he stood down ahead of the ballot due to have been held at 9am (AEST) on Thursday. The ABC reported Ms Gillard has the backing of powerful unions like the Australian Workers' Union and the Health Services Union and is backed by the party's right faction and key groups from the left. Ms Gillard becomes Australia's 27th prime minister and its first female leader. Treasurer Wayne Swan will be her deputy. Mr Rudd was elected prime minister in November 2007.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Diplomatic row looms at Chch nuclear talks

A potential diplomatic row is looming in Christchurch this morning at a meeting of countries that export civil nuclear technology. The nuclear suppliers' group has been holding its annual meeting there this week behind closed doors. It has being widely reported that China will detail plans to provide Pakistan with two additional nuclear power reactors. The 46 member group includes New Zealand. Despite the fact that New Zealand does not trade in nuclear item, the country does make high-tech goods which are deemed to be sensitive for nuclear proliferation reasons.
Source: ONE News



Rudd ousted-Julia Gillard - Australia's first female PM

Australia's ruling party dumped Kevin Rudd as prime minister, handing power to the nation's first female leader, former deputy premier Julia Gillard, in an effort to avoid election defeat later this year. His leadership fell apart after a string of poor opinion polls showed him losing ground over recent decisions to shelve a carbon-reduction scheme and impose a new mining tax. Gillard is seen by party rank and file as a warmer and more popular politician than Rudd, who was viewed increasingly as bookish, cold and a poor communicator. The Labor party's major factions, right and left, have swung their support behind Gillard, hoping that she stands a much better chance of leading a successful re-election campaign. Next election is due within six months, though political experts have been expecting it to be called around October.
Source: Reuters



Wednesday, June 23

Maori vs England rugby update

The New Zealand Maori rugby team has beaten England 35-28 in Napier.



Big four all raise petrol prices by 3c a litre

The cost of fuel rose again on Wednesday: all major oil companies lifted petrol and diesel prices by at least 3c a litre. Caltex, BP, Mobil and Shell have all confirmed the rise. Unleaded 91 octane is now 175.9c, up from 172.9c, and diesel is 117.9c. The companies attribute the increase to a rise in the cost of the product overseas. Gull says however that it is not increasing its prices.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



New Zealand Maori a third test for English rugby team

The England rugby coach Martin Johnson says they consider tonight's clash against the New Zealand Maori in Napier as the third test of their tour. The English have just come off a drawn series with the Wallabies and have left out a number of their top players for tonight's match, although the side does include some familiar names in Charlie Hodgson, Matthew Tait, Delon Armitage and Chris Ashton. The English dominated most of the set pieces against Australia, but Johnson expects tonight's contest to be relatively even. The Maori have beaten the Barbarians and Ireland so far in their three match centenary series.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Lincoln University revokes Fujimori's honorary degree

By BECK ELEVEN - The Press
Lincoln University has revoked an honorary degree awarded to a former Peruvian president who was last year jailed for ordering two massacres and committing other human rights crimes. Lincoln vice- chancellor Roger Field said the decision to revoke Alberto Fujimori's science doctorate was met by a round of applause from staff during a regular campus update today. The decision, a first for Lincoln University, was made during the public-excluded section of the university council meeting on this week. Field said the university examined its core values of respect for human rights and condemned Fujimori's involvement in ``a gross violation of human rights in Peru''. Fujimori ruled Peru from 1990 to 2000. He was awarded the honorary Doctor of Science degree at a Lincoln University ceremony while on a state visit to New Zealand in June 1998.



Football's popularity on the rise

A survey shows football's popularity in New Zealand has soared since the All Whites' success at the Football World Cup. It could even be catching up with the nation's long-held love of rugby. A UMR Research survey of more than 1100 people between 16 June and 22 June shows that more than a third of the participants were more interested in the All Whites' performance at the World Cup than in the All Blacks' test matches against Ireland and Wales. Just 15% were more interested in the All Blacks and 40% were equally interested in both. Sixty-two percent said they had a general interest in rugby, but football wasn't far behind, with 53 percent interest.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Cream of China's dancers come to NZ

By Lincoln Tan
The next Chinese Hollywood star could be in the mix of dancers from the Beijing Dance Academy performing in Auckland tonight. Graduates and student dancers from China's top dance institution, which boasts graduates Li Cunxin (Mao's Last Dancer) and Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) will be performing for the first time this evening. "It will give audiences a fresh look at the new and emerging Chinese performing arts style and development," said Jim He, the tour organiser and chairman of the Pacific Culture and Arts Exchange Centre. The dancers are being hosted in New Zealand by Unitec, and will perform in two shows featuring contemporary and Chinese contemporary dance at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna.



WOW adds extra show due to demand

Overwhelming demand has seen an extra show added to this year's World of Wearable Arts in Wellington. Managing director Gabrielle Hervey says demand for tickets is so strong this year that they are adding a matinee show on October 2. She says with very few tickets left and still three months to go, they did not want to leave people disappointed.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Kiwi fraud-foiler for bank cards

A new way of preventing bank and credit card fraud has been developed in New Zealand. BNZ has announced worldwide patent of the technology, which aims to stop "skimming" of cards, where information on magnetic stripes is captured by fraudsters. BNZ local fraud initiative manager Michael Turner, says the difference now, is that information is sent back on to the card. "We re-write new information on to the card. That means that any information previously held on the card is no longer valid. If anyone's taken a copy of that information on the card, it would no longer work."
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Foreign aid going to King, Tongan MP alleges

A pro-democracy Tongan MP says that about half of the huge increase in the state allocation for King George Tupou V will come from foreign aid donors. It has been revealed in Tonga's Budget papers that the King is to receive nearly 200% more money in the coming year. That takes his annual allocation to more than $700,000, with another $850,000 set aside each year for overseas travel. The MP who first raised concerns about the increase, Isileli Pulu, says it's the wrong move, given Tonga's beleaguered economy and cuts in services. He says the increase comes on top of the millions being spent on the Royal Palace, the King's coronation and the buy-back of his shares in the national electricity utility. And to make things worse, Mr Pulu says, the goverment funds will be topped up with foreign aid money.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Asian visitor numbers on the rise

By Natasha Burling - NewstalkZB
There has been a massive jump in the number of Asian passengers arriving at Auckland International Airport. Passenger traffic from Japan grew by nearly 90 percent between May last year and the same month this year. Thirty-five percent more Chinese and 44 percent more Koreans arrived at the airport during that period. Auckland Airport spokesman Richard Llewellyn says visitor numbers have rebounded after swine flu prompted many to stay away last year.



WOW adds extra show due to demand

Overwhelming demand has seen an extra show added to this year's World of Wearable Arts in Wellington. Managing director Gabrielle Hervey says demand for tickets is so strong this year that they are adding a matinee show on October 2. She says with very few tickets left and still three months to go, they did not want to leave people disappointed.
A link to WOW is in the sidebar
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Secret talks to bring pandas to New Zealand

By DAVE BURGESS - The Dominion Post
Endangered Chinese giant pandas could be brought to Wellington Zoo under a secret deal. It is understood Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast discussed bringing two pandas to the capital when she met the Beijing mayor in China this month. The bears could be part-exchanged for a pair of kiwi under one suggested proposal. A spokesman for Ms Prendergast said the subject of pandas was raised while she was in China, but he said discussions were being held at a national level and he declined to comment further. Talks to bring the pandas to New Zealand were under way between the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry and its Chinese counterpart, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister John Key confirmed last night. She said Mr Key would be very pleased to secure giant pandas for a New Zealand zoo but nothing was confirmed.



Queenstown gets first big snowfall of winter

Heavy snow is falling in Queenstown, closing roads and schools, and police are advising motorists not to travel unless they have to. The Crown Range and Lindis Pass are closed and higher streets around the Queenstown area are also impassable. All schools in Queenstown and Arrowtown are closed. It is the first major snowfall in Queenstown this winter.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



World Cup Soccer-Lineup likely to remain the same for Paraguay match

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert says he's likely to stick with the same lineup for their final group match against Paraguay on Friday morning. Herbert has used the same starting 11 for the team's first two matches, which have produced 1-1 draws against Slovakia and Italy, and he says he's unlikely to mix things up now. Herbert says vice captain Tim Brown will probably be named on the bench again for the Paraguay match, as he's not sure the midfielder will be 100% following his broken shoulder.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Current account deficit at 20-year low

The annual current account deficit has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years. The deficit, which measures payments to foreigners less earnings paid to New Zealanders from overseas, was $4.5 billion, or 2.4% percent of Gross Domestic Product, in the year to the end of March. Earnings from sales overseas are also picking up, with exports rising for the first time in more than a year in the March quarter.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Tuesday, June 22

Australia restores race laws after Aboriginal crackdown

Australia reinstated race discrimination laws in the remote Northern Territory region Tuesday after suspending them for three years to pursue a controversial crime crackdown in poor Aboriginal townships. Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin called the suspension, enacted under conservative former prime minister John Howard but amended in parliament late on Monday, a "blight" on Australia's image. Disabling the legislation allowed Howard to send troops into Outback Aboriginal towns, restrict welfare payments and ban alcohol, under a so-called "intervention" policy condemned as discriminatory by the United Nations. Disabling the legislation allowed Howard to send troops into Outback Aboriginal towns, restrict welfare payments and ban alcohol, under a so-called "intervention" policy condemned as discriminatory by the United Nations.
by Amy Coopes AFP



NZ man killed in Norwegian parachute jump

A New Zealand jumpmaster and parachute instructor has been killed in a parachute accident in Norway. Northland's Gary Cullen, 51, owner of the Bream Bay Butchery at Ruakaka, died of his injuries near Lysebotn in Rogaland on Sunday. He was a tandem jumpmaster for his sister Kelly's Ballistic Blondes skydiving business in Northland. Stein Edvardsen, president of the local base-jumping club - for parachutists who jump from cliffs, towers and buildings, said the New Zealander failed to get the lift he needed from his parachute, which collapsed, and he fell 30m.
NZPA



Bellbird flies from Hamilton to Hauraki Gulf

A bellbird released with 49 others in Hamilton last month has impressed the organisers of a project to reestablish the species. Environment Waikato Biodiversity Officer Ben Paris, says most of the bellbirds have been seen in and around the city, however, one has made it back to Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf, where it originally came from. "It was pretty impressive that it could fly that far for such a little bird. We never really expected that they could fly that far, so it's really quite something."
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Frogs Croak

By IAN STEWARD - Stuff
Illegally traded frogs destroyed.
A family of exotic Australian frogs being kept illegally by an Auckland man has been destroyed. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) officers presume the White's Tree Frogs were smuggled to New Zealand. However, the man charged, Auckland frog and lizard collector Haisley Pace, 33, has not confirmed how he came to possess them. A breeding pair of adults and over 50 juvenile frogs were discovered at his home in early January after the frogs were advertised for sale on Trade Me. The whole family has since been euthanized by freezing. MAF Enforcement Director Jockey Jensen said the frogs were classed as "unauthorised organisms". With disease causing frog populations to plummet around the world, it was necessary to control which frogs were admitted, he said.



US oil spill can be cleaned up, say NZ experts

Two New Zealanders who have been helping clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico believe it can be successfully cleared. Dayne Maxwell and Scott Read from Maritime New Zealand have been in the United States since May, as part of an international team responding to the disaster, involved mainly in cleaning up oil from shorelines. Mr Read says the scale of the response is the largest he has ever seen, and while it is a long term plan, he is confident the environment will eventually recover. He says New Zealand's contingency plan matches the methods being used to clean up the oil in the United States, and the visit has reassured him this country is prepared to deal with a spill of a similar scale. Three other Maritime New Zealand staff have recently gone over to join the response team.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Amid austerity, Tonga King gets allocation tripled

The King of Tonga, George Tupou the 5th, is set to receive nearly 300 percent more from the state in the coming financial year. According to the new budget, he is to be given just over half a million US dollars annually, with about 600,000 US dollars set aside each year for overseas travel. This comes as the country battles back from two years of economic contraction which has led to cuts in a number of services. Our correspondent, Mateni Tapueluelu, says while reverence for the monarch is embedded in Tongan culture, that is beginning to wear thin, with King George Tupou’s lack of involvement in issues that are important to the people.
© Radio New Zealand International



Snow predicted for Canterbury

Snow is predicted to fall to low levels in Canterbury overnight as a southerly front passes through. In a severe weather warning issued by the MetService, forecaster Mark Pascoe said snow was likely down to about 300 metres in inland parts of Canterbury, and heavy falls were expected in the MacKenzie country.
NZPA



Warning sirens for Christchurch coast

Tsunami warning sirens are to be installed along Christchurch city's coast. The City Council has approved $288,000 in its annual plan for the sirens which will stretch from Waimairi Beach to Sumner. Mayor Bob Parker says funding for the sirens was not in the draft budget, but has been added as a direct result of submissions from the community. He says the sirens will be installed this year.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



New name for Montana Wines

A change of name for Montana Wines. Exports to the US have risen so the change is being rolled out around the world from September. Americans have always known the brand as Brancott Estate because of confusion with the state of Montana. Business correspondent Roger Kerr says Brancott was Montana's original vineyard, where the first Sauvignon Blanc vines were planted in Marlborough. In New Zealand both names will be used on the label until drinkers get used to the idea.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Knock me down with an $8400 feather

By TOM HUNT - The Dominion Post
A mystery Wellington family has shelled out a world record $8400 for a single bird feather. The huia feather surpassed all expectations when it was sold at Webb's Auction House late last week. "Starting in $100 increments that quickly leaped into the thousands and came to rest at a world record price of $8400." The sale was believed to be a world record for a bird feather. Several years ago a bald eagle feather sold in the United States for US$2800. Te Papa researcher Hokimate Harwood, who researches bird feathers, said huia feathers were valuable to Maori because they were associated with high-ranking people, and they were now generally valuable because the huia was extinct. The Duke of York, who later became George V, visited New Zealand in 1902. A Rotorua chief gave him a huia feather, which he wore back to England in his hat. "All the women in England wanted one and people were paying a lot of money," Ms Harwood said. "And that's what led to their extinction."



Frigate visit first to US in 25 years

By HANK SCHOUTEN - The Dominion Post
The frigate Te Kaha has sailed into Seattle harbour to become the first New Zealand navy ship to tie up at a mainland United States port since 1985. A quarter of a century since the Anzus bust-up over New Zealand's ban on nuclear armed or powered warships, Te Kaha and the navy tanker Endeavour sailed into the port without fanfare on Sunday, apparently to avoid drawing attention to the significance of the latest event in the slow thaw in US and New Zealand defence relations. The ships are not being accorded full military-diplomatic courtesies – they have had to tie up at civilian docks rather than being invited into the US navy base at Seattle. But a brief exercise en route was another small step towards restoration of long-severed ties, with Te Kaha taking part in naval manoeuvres with a US destroyer and two Japanese frigates off Japan.



Teen rower wins US sports scholarship

A 19-year-old Whanganui rower has won a sports scholarship at the University of California in Berkeley. Paparangi Hipango will study sports psychology, design and photography, when she's not out on the water. Ms Hipango told Waatea News she's had great support from her whanau and the people of her home town, and has also picked up valuable experience through competing in China, Austria and France. Paparangi Hipango leaves for California in August.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Monday, June 21

Update-Three Australians die in Afghanistan

Four soldiers, three Australian and one American, have died in a helicopter crash in the north Kandahar region of Afghanistan on Monday. Seven Australian soldiers were hurt, two seriously. One is undergoing surgery and another is in intensive care. The soldiers were members of Australia's Special Operations Task Group. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, confirmed that the incident was not a result of enemy action. The helicopter was carrying 15 people when it crashed in rugged terrain in the northern area of Kandahar. Other coalition helicopters landed immediately and evacuated the injured. The dead soldiers were members of the 2nd Commando Regiment and had done three tours of Afghanistan. The deaths bring to 16 the number of Australians who have died during operations in Afghanistan since 2001.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Fast-food chain issues hoax warning

Fast-food chain McDonald's is warning people not to be taken in by a hoax customer survey. The bogus email tells participants they can win a car or petrol vouchers if they answer questions about McDonald's food and service and then asks for credit card numbers. It's the 10th time in the past 12 months that the chain has been hit by an email scam in New Zealand.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



New Rakon factory in China 'on track'

Electronic component maker Rakon says it is on track to open its factory in China by May next year. The company is one of the world's leading producers of the crystals and oscillators used in GPS systems and some mobile phones, and already has a presence in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Rakon managing director Brent Robinson says the company has enjoyed strong support from Sichuan authorities to build its new manufacturing in the city of Chengdu. He says Rakon is yet to benefit from New Zealand's free-trade deal with China because its trade has never been subject to high tariffs.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Big drop in migrants to NZ

The number of people migrating to New Zealand has shrunk to the lowest level since 2008. Figures from Statistics New Zealand show net migration for May was 250, down from 750 in April. Arrivals, particularly from the UK and Europe, have been declining steadily in the recession, probably because the weaker labour market in NZ has meant less need to fill positions from off-shore. Migration from Asia, apart from China and India, is also starting to decline.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Liquor ban for Mountain Mardi Gras

Police will be strictly enforcing the liquor ban which is in place in the central North Island ski town of Ohakune, as 8,000 people converge on the area for the annual Mountain Mardi Gras. Sergeant Mike Craig says the event has been peaceful in recent years, but police still have to pick up the pieces when people drink excessively. Last year 11 people were arrested mainly for disorder and alcohol-related offences.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Alert sounded over nanoparticles in cosmetics

The Sustainability Council is to release a report tomorrow on nanomaterials after claims New Zealand women are being exposed to potentially toxic cosmetic ingredients which have been banned in Europe and Australia. Five classes of nanomaterials have attracted controversy recently, including those in cosmetics, cleaning products, clothing, sunscreens and fuels. The Sustainability Council says that nanotech regulation has gone into "snooze mode", with products containing nano-particles - called "fullerenes" - remaining on sale in New Zealand despite the European cosmetics industry banning them until more is known about their safety. The Sustainability Council says recent scientific research has suggested that these nano-particles, commonly used in cosmetics and sunscreens, could present serious new health and environmental risks.
NZPA



Soccer-Dream continues for All Whites

Sensation again for New Zealand at the World Cup in South Africa. The unfancied All Whites have stunned defending champions Italy this morning, holding on for a gutsy 1-all draw in Nelspruit. Shane Smeltz gave New Zealand a surprise 1-nil lead after just seven minutes, tapping in from close range after Simon Elliott swung in a superb cross from a set piece. However, Italy drew level on the half hour with a goal from the penalty spot, after Tommy Smith was adjudged to have brought down Daniele de Rossi in the box. Replays showed Smith giving de Rossi's shirt the slightest of tugs and the Italian striker took the opportunity to hit the deck. The draw leaves both New Zealand and Italy on two points in Group F, while Paraguay leads the group with four. The South American side downed Slovakia 2-nil earlier this morning.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Poll spells bad news for Labour

Bad news for the Labour party this morning, with a poll last night showed it falling in popularity as the expenses scandal hits it hard. The TV3 poll shows support dropping for Labour by over three percent, down to 30.5 percent. National gains those three points, up that amount to 55.3 percent support.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Shortest day today

Daylight is at a premium today, especially in the south. It is officially the shortest day of the year as the southern hemisphere has tilted farthest away from the sun. Weatherwatch head analyst Philip Duncan says the winter solstice starts at 11.28 tonight. He says it will depend on where you are in the country as to how much daylight you will get. Mr Duncan says the deep south around Invercargill will have a much shorter day than the likes of Kaitaia with the sun rising an hour later and setting much earlier. He says most places will see the sun rising around 7.30 this morning, and setting around four or five.
Copyright 2002 - 2010, TelstraClear Ltd



Backing for NZ's UN bid 'looking positive'

A spokesperson for Prime Minister John Key says it appears increasingly likely that China will lend its support to New Zealand's bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Mr Key announced in a speech to the UN General Assembly last year the country's intention to seek one of the 10 non-permanent seats on the council in 2015. During a three-day visit to New Zealand last week, China's Vice President Xi Jinping held private talks with Mr Key at Government House. A spokesperson for Mr Key said while China's backing "cannot be confirmed at this stage, it is looking positive."
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



International nuclear meeting underway in NZ

The annual meeting of the international Nuclear Suppliers Group, which aims to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, is underway in Christchurch - the first time the group has held a meeting in New Zealand. It's expected Beijing will make a formal statement at the gathering about its proposed sale of two nuclear power generating reactors to Pakistan. New Zealand is one of 46 countries which formed the group in 1974 to regulate the trade in nuclear materials.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Sunday, June 20

Debut World Cup victory for NZ rowers

By Tim Evans - NewstalkZB
Kiwis Juliette Haigh and Rebecca Scown have won a World Cup rowing event in their first international outing in the women's pair. Haigh and Scown have smashed the field in Munich, more than five seconds ahead of second place.



Australian mining bosses missing in Africa

Nine Australian mining executives are missing in west Africa after their plane disappeared. Board members from West Australian based iron ore miner Sundance Resources have been in Cameroon in the past few days speaking with officials about a project. The company says an extensive search is underway.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Bon Jovi coming to NZ

Rock icons Bon Jovi return to New Zealand in December with two shows as part of The Circle world tour. Bon Jovi will play Westpac Stadium in Wellington on December 4 and Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on December 5. Tickets will go on sale on Thursday 8 July.
Source: ONE News



Seaweed incredibly edible: scientist

By SUSAN PEPPERELL - Sunday Star Times
It's a free, nutritious and a sustainable source of food. And to get it, all you have to do is get wet. It's seaweed. And Sally Carson, of Otago University's Marine Studies Centre, says we should all be eating more of this hugely beneficial food. Next month, at the New Zealand international science festival in Dunedin, she is organising a session dubbed "the incredible, edible seaweed workshop" to explain why we should eat it, and how to harvest and cook it. "The wonderful thing about seaweed is that you don't have to worry about any of it being poisonous. It's all edible, it's just that some varieties taste better than others." Carson's recommendation for gathering seaweed is to take the outer parts of an attached plant and to know where you're collecting it from. "One of the reasons that seaweed is so good for you is because it absorbs minerals and nutrients, but it also absorbs pollutants, so it should be collected in non-polluted areas."



Pacific radio host silenced

A host on a state-funded radio station has been taken off air after questioning the granting of a Government contract for Pacific Island services without a tendering process. Efeso Collins, who hosts a current affairs programme on Radio Five-31 PI in the Auckland, says he's received no explanation. Programme director Pere Maitai has told Radio New Zealand it's a staff matter. However, Nick Bakulich, a Pacific community leader, suspects Mr Collins has been gagged for questioning the transparency in an allocation of $4.8 million to the Pacific Economic Development Agency, for a contract to improve the economic wellbeing of Pacific Islanders.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



World War I wrecks found on seabed at Gallipoli

A archaeological team from Turkey and Australia has discovered a number of World War I wrecks on the seabed at Gallipoli. Their survey covered the seabed at Brighton Beach, Anzac Cove, North Beach and Suvla Bay. Among the findings was a barge off Anzac Cove, which was used to ferry dead and wounded ANZAC troops from the beach. The ABC reports they also proved a wreck at Suvla Bay was a British destroyer which ran aground and was destroyed by Turkish shell fire in 1915. The wreck was previously identified as a water-supply vessel. New South Wales planning minister Tony Kelly says it was the first scientific survey of the seabed at Gallpoli.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Saturday, June 19

Rugby-NZ vs Wales

Some Dan Carter magic inspired the All Blacks to a 42-9 win over Wales as they farewelled Test rugby at Carisbrook with a flourish tonight. Carter ran brilliantly to score two second-half tries and break the match open as the All Blacks cut loose to pile on 27 unanswered points with some devastating counter-attack after the break. Recent history made the All Blacks overwhelming favourites, with Wales having lost all five of their previous tests in New Zealand, including a 55-3 hiding in their last visit in 2003.
New Zealand 42 (Tries;Dan Carter 2, Keven Mealamu, Cory Jane, Richard Kahui ; Carter 3 pen, 4 con)
Wales 9 (Stephen Jones, pen, dropped goal, Leigh Halfpenny pen).
This is the last rugby test to be played at Carisbrook. The ground will be demolished and a new covered stadium built.
NZPA



Myanmar vigil tonight

By Jacqui Stanford - NewstalkZB
A vigil will be held in Auckland tonight, to mark the 65th birthday of a Myanmar pro-democracy leader and political prisoner. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for most of the past 20 years. Her party was elected to office by an overwhelming majority two decades ago, however the military refused to hand over power. Amnesty International CEO Patrick Holmes says the vigil will also mark the build-up to promised elections in Myanmar, the first for 20 years. The vigil is being held at the Aotea Chapel at 370 Queen Street in Auckland from 8pm.



Homeless dog happy after diet and learning English

A homeless Gisborne dog that used to understand only Chinese language, has learned English, lost 40kg, and found a loving family to live with. Last September, labrador-cross John-Boy was grieving, overweight and without an owner after a life of luxury with his 86-year-old owner Fong Wong came to an abrupt end. Mr Wong had a stroke and was forced to move to a rest home in Auckland, leaving his beloved pet behind. John-Boy saved his life two years ago after his first stroke in the shower - the dog kept him warm for two to three days until someone found him. He did not want John-Boy to be put down and gave the SPCA a sizable donation to help look after him and home him. The dog used to lie in bed with Mr Wong and there would be two TVs going - one for him and one for the dog. He had also been over-indulged with food, eating sponge cake for morning and afternoon tea. The SPCA put him on a diet and started English as second language lessons. But getting used to life without the luxuries he had become accustomed to was hard, said SPCA manager Lesley Lousich. Initial SPCA efforts to find him a new home were fruitless until Rachael and Damon Bellamy approached them two months ago looking for a guard dog and John-Boy has since settled into his new home.
NZPA



Open access to cholestrol-lowering drug

Government drug funder Pharmac says there will now be open access to the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin, after a 90 percent price reduction. Restrictions on atorvastatin would be removed from September 1, allowing any clinician to prescribe it for patients, taking into account cardiovascular guidelines. Statins are used by about 400,000 New Zealanders to help manage cholesterol levels, important to lower the risk for heart attacks and other vascular diseases.
NZPA



Poor mussel season in Marlborough

The mussel industry in Marlborough is having a poor season. Summer drought meant not enough nutrients were washed into the sea, so meat size on the filter-feeding shellfish is well down. Country Life reports one processing factory is considering stopping its night shift as a consequence.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



PM heading to South Africa

Prime Minister John Key leaves for South Africa on Saturday to watch the All Whites play in the FIFA World Cup. While there, Mr Key will also open New Zealand's new High Commission premises in Pretoria and meet South African business leaders. It is the first Prime Ministerial visit to South Africa since 2002. Mr Key is patron of the All Whites for the World Cup tournament. He will be accompanied by his son Max. They will attend the pool match against Italy in Nelspruit on 21 June (NZT).
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



More boats of asylum seekers intercepted

Two more boats carrying asylum seekers were stopped in Australia's northern waters on Friday. One boat was found west of the Lacepede Islands, off the north-west coast of Western Australia, while the other was intercepted near Christmas Island. The federal government says a total of 74 people are on board the two boats. The ABC reports they will be taken to Christmas Island for health, identity and security checks. Two boats were intercepted in waters north-west of Australia on Saturday, 5 June. Two others were stopped by the day before.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Baring Head purchased for the public

A 240 hectare block of land near Wellington, known as Baring Head, has been purchased by a consortium and put into public ownership. The consortium led by Wellington Regional Council includes the Department of Conservation, the Nature Heritage Fund, Hutt City Council and a private donor. WRC chair Fran Wilde says Baring Head has unique features such as coastal biodiversity and recreational opportunities.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Friday, June 18

Rugby-Maori celebrate with Irish game centenary scalp

The New Zealand Maori's centenary rugby celebrations hit full swing in Rotorua tonight when they claimed the scalp of Ireland with a heartstopping 31-28 victory. In an highly entertaining counter in which both sides showed showed a willingness to run the ball, the Maori made a quick start but the Irish fought back before fortunes ebbed and flowed. The Maori, who beat the Barbarians 37-31 last weekend, end their centenary series against England in Napier on Wednesday night. Maori captain Liam Messam was happy with the way his team dug deep in the final 20 minutes of the closely contested game. New Zealand Maori 31 (Hosea Gear, Dwayne Sweeney, Karl Lowe tries; Luke McAlister con, 3 pen; Willie Ripia con, pen)
Ireland 28 (Paddy Wallace try; Jonathan Sexton 7 pen, con).
NZPA



Kiwi cops in South Africa to pick up tips

New Zealand police at the FIFA Football World Cup are impressed with local security and are taking notes for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Two uniformed officers are in the country, based at an international police centre, witnessing South Africa put on a security show. And among the crowds there will be a familiar Kiwi face - Inspector Kevin Riordan, who is the national co-ordinator for next-year's Rugby World Cup. From crowd control to checkpoints, Riordan is in the country to see what New Zealand police can do to pull off a flawless Rugby World Cup at home. "We're looking at the workings of how they're running the operation and how they're running the events and that will all come into the big mix when I get back to Wellington," Riordan says.
Source: ONE News



Students win big at World Problem Solving Champs

It's a big ask to solve the problems of the world, but three New Zealand schools seem well equipped to handle the challenge. Cobham Intermediate is back from the World Problem Solving Champs in the US after winning the top prize. "It's pretty exhilirating, I wasn't expecting so many people," says student Victor Daddiza. "We were almost in tears." But they are not the only New Zealand school to win big. Manukau's Mission Height Primary and Matamata College also won trophies. The event is designed to extend gifted children.
Source: ONE News



NZ sea lion now listed as critically endangered

The New Zealand sea lion has been officially recognised as critically endangered. The Department of Conservation (DoC) has raised the threatened status of the sea lion to the most endangered category, nationally critical, after a review of 56 species of marine mammal. There are estimated to be just 9800 sea lions left in the wild, mainly on the sub-Antarctic islands south of New Zealand. DoC has also lifted the threatened status of the bottlenose dolphin to nationally endangered, the second highest category.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



NZ meeting may debate selling Pakistan nukes

Many of the biggest players in the global nuclear reactor industry may be headed for a row in New Zealand next week, when the 46-country Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meets here. The United States' Obama administration is objecting to China selling nuclear reactors to Pakistan - which has never signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - even though the US sealed a similar deal with India two years ago. New Zealand won international praise then for leading a half-dozen nations - with support from another 15 - in refusing to be pressured by the US and India to approve what the New York Times labelled "an ill-conceived nuclear deal". New Zealand's closest supporters in that row were Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Norway and the Netherlands. Now United States negotiators at the NSG meeting in New Zealand face a conundrum in trying to oppose the proposed Pakistan deal while dodging charges of hypocrisy, given the administration only last year sealed a US deal to supply India with civilian nuclear equipment.
NZPA



Study looks at why mum's kiss is good for baby

By Eileen Goodwin
Encouraging a mother to spit on her baby may not sound like good science, but it is the basis of a world-first study in New Zealand. The University of Otago study aims to determine if newborns can receive, and establish, good bacteria that have been introduced to their mother's mouths. Pregnant women will suck a probiotic lozenge each day of the last month of their pregnancy to colonise their mouths with the bacteria associated with preventing sore throats and ear infections. "There has been no study like this before," Professor John Tagg said. If his theory is right, his method will establish the good bacteria, potentially with life-long benefits. "When she kisses baby, it should give the kiss of protection to her baby."



Final farewell for Carisbrook

Dunedins' Carisbrook Park has its final curtain call on Saturday night when the All Blacks play Wales in the final rugby Test at the ground. A new covered stadium is under construction in Dunedin and should be finished next year in time for the Rugby World Cup. Saturday night's Test is expected to be emotional for many as they farewell Carisbrook and reflect on its history. Carisbrook began its days as a cricket ground in the 1870s - indeed its name is derived from a local cricket club. It's the first and last time Wales will play the All Blacks at Carisbrook. The All Blacks have lost only five matches at Carisbrook. But those losses include the last two Tests there - against South Africa and France.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



NZ to host 2013 BMX world champs

New Zealand has won the rights to host the UCI BMX World Championships in Auckland in 2013. The event will be staged at Vector Arena in Auckland in July, 2013. A purpose-built track will be constructed using between 5000-6000 cubic metres of dirt. New Zealander Sarah Walker is the current BMX double World Champion.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Rugby World Cup to be broadcast in US

Rugby World Cup matches will be broadcast on network television in the United States. The International Rugby Board announced on Thursday that NBC Sports and Universal Sports have been awarded the exclusive rights to next year's tournament in New Zealand and the 2015 tournament in England. The deal includes the final of each tournament on NBC and Universal Sports network, as well as coverage of other key matches.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand



Green MP tangles with Chinese outside Parliament

Green MP Russel Norman was mandhandled by Chinese security guards while staging a protest on the forecourt at Parliament on Friday. Dr Norman was holding a Tibetan flag, while waiting for the arrival of the Vice-President Xi Jinping who is on a three day visit to New Zealand. When Mr Xi arrived to meet Parliament's Speaker, Dr Lockwood Smith, about a dozen Chinese security guards surrounded Dr Norman and attempted to elbow him out of the way. Afterwards, he said he thinks it's outrageous that Chinese security can come to New Zealand and push around an MP on Parliament's grounds, because he was standing up for democracy and freedom.
Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand


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