Overstayers nabbed in immigration op

Twenty Indonesian and Chinese overstayers are being held at the Hastings police station after they were detained during an immigration operation. Police and the Labour Department carried out the joint operation on Monday and Tuesday. The 17 Indonesians, who had deserted a ship, and three Chinese citizens, were being interviewed by immigration officers, the Labour Department said in a statement. They would appear at Napier District Court later today.Source:NZPA

NZ workers saving more for retirement

Working New Zealanders are pessimistic about the likelihood of receiving Government superannuation in the future. And more are actively saving for retirement, according to the third AXA retirement survey. AXA chief executive Ralph Stewart says the good news is New Zealanders are saving 51 dollars per month more for their retirement than two years ago, with average savings of 231 dollars a month. He says the flip side is that almost two thirds of those surveyed indicated they did not think there would be Government superannuation available for them in their retirement.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ signs two new international protocols

New Zealand has signed up to two international protocols on the threat of maritime terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They create new offences relating to trafficking of WMDs, and allow officials to board vessels where they suspect an offence has been committed. Eleven other nations have so far signed the treaties, including Australia, France, Britain and the United States. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says our Parliament will have to pass new legislation before New Zealand can ratify the protocols.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Cadmus develops tourist eftpos

By SUE ALLEN - The Dominion Post
EFTPOS technology firm Cadmus Technology has developed a payment terminal that allows tourists in New Zealand to pay in their home currency. The new service is a linkup with Bank of New Zealand and payment administrators Pure Commerce. Cadmus spokesman Paul Jamieson said the system was the first of its kind to launch in New Zealand. It was an improvement on existing systems because it allowed international visitors to see what they were paying in their home currency on the day of the purchase, rather than forcing them to wait for the credit card bill when they returned home.
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

Fox, Franz Josef glaciers defy trend

By PAUL GORMAN - The Press
The rest of the world's glaciers may be melting, but New Zealand's two best-known glaciers are still on the march. Guides say the Franz Josef and the Fox glaciers continued advancing down their valleys in the past year and may soon be close to positions reached 40 years ago. That contrasts sharply with the plight of many glaciers elsewhere on the planet, which are shrinking three times faster than they were in the 1980s, according to the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS).
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

Boys flee 'feminised' primary schools

By ARWEN HANN - The Press
Independent boys-only primary schools are flourishing amid allegations co-educational schools have become "feminised". Waihi School, an independent school for boys in Years 5 to 8 near Temuka, South Canterbury, finished last year with the highest roll in its 99-year history. The school is again on track to have a record-breaking roll, and in the past eight years the number of new entrants has steadily increased as parents choose a boys-only education. Medbury School in Christchurch has the highest number of new entrants in its history this year and also has a waiting list for its boarding house. Waihi principal Grant Hamilton said the ethos of the school encouraged parents. "Some parents appreciate the fact that we offer sports and music opportunities as part of the school day, some appreciate the small class sizes, others have seen their boys not flourishing at other schools and want to try something different." Primary school had become feminised, which meant many boys did not respond, he said.
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

Request to fly Maori flag on harbour bridge denied

Managers of the Auckland Harbour Bridge have rejected a request by a Maori sovereignty group to fly the Maori independence flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Waitangi Day. The NZ Herald reported today the group, Ata Tino Toa, lodged a request with Transit last week seeking permission to fly the distinctive red black and white tino rangatiratanga flag from the prominent Auckland landmark on February 6. The group said the flag should be afforded the same prominence as flags of other countries which have been allowed to fly their flags on their respective national days. Transit, however, disagreed, saying the flag did not represent a recognised country so would not be allowed to be flown from the bridge.
Source:NZPA

Peters criticises anti-Aust, US sentiment

Foreign Minister Winston Peters took a swipe at what he calls anti-Australian and American attitudes during a speech to the Orewa Rotary Club, north of Auckland last night . The New Zealand First leader criticised what he calls an an irrational sense of sport in having a go at Canberra and Washington. He said some quarters consider it a perverse badge of honour to take cheap shots. Mr Peters says such groups are quick to criticise what they disagree with, while being slow to acknowledge the huge effort the US and Australia puts into the Pacific and beyond.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Council staff off to help Tonga

The Manukau City Council has voted in favour of allowing council staff to go to Tonga to help with the rebuilding of Nuku'alofa. A number of councillors were against the suggestion, prompting last night's debate, but the decision means four staff can travel to Tonga as planned.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Pacific Island women smoking while pregnant

Pacific Island women smoking while pregnant. A significant number of Pacific Island mothers in New Zealand are smoking during pregnancy, an AUT University study has found. In a paper recently published in The New Zealand Medical Journal, AUT researchers discovered approximately 20% of surveyed Pacific Island mothers living in New Zealand reported smoking during their last trimester of pregnancy, with significant associated health problems. Overall, smoking prevalence among Pacific Island women is higher - in 2002 the Ministry of Health reported 28.5% smoked compared with 25.5% of all New Zealand women.

Vista Selling Well Locally

New Zealanders have become the first in the world to get their hands on the very latest software to come out of Microsoft. The Vista operating system went on sale at selected outlets at midnight. Around 400 computer buffs stormed Dick Smith's 'Powerhouse' store in Manukau, South Auckland, to snap up the software.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Ferrari towed due to unpaid fines

A Paraparaumu Ferrari owner has been given a stern warning to pay up - or lose his beloved car. The 1999 Ferrari 575 Maranello, worth up to a quarter-of-a-million-dollars, was towed away from its parking spot outside Palmerston North District Court yesterday after a warrant was issued. The owner has been warned to pay almost $2,500 worth of traffic fines within seven days, or have his confiscated car sold.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Avian malaria puts NZ's native birds in jeopardy

New Zealand's native bird population stands on the brink of an epidemic of epidemics. Landcare Research has revealed avian malaria which is transported by mosquitoes is on our shores and has already wiped out many overseas bird species. Dan Tompkins says it is the first survey they have done for over 50 years and the result of how prevalent avian malaria is, has been a shock to them.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Kicking out foreign students cost nearly $500,000

By LANE NICHOLS - The Dominion Post
Nearly 250 foreign students have been kicked out of New Zealand in the past two years for breaches including dropping out, working illegally and committing crimes, with their removal costing taxpayers close to $500,000. Figures released by the Labour Department under the Official Information Act reveal 34 students required police escorts for their removal – most commonly to China, South Korea and India – increasing costs by thousands of dollars. The most expensive removal was a student from Britain last year who needed two police escorts back to London "for security and safety reasons".

GP fees to rise despite $2b Govt injection

By Martin Johnston
Fees to see a GP are going up, despite the multibillion-dollar taxpayer boost for primary healthcare. Costs are likely to rise by more than $1 for most patients after a controversial ruling by district health boards. Doctors blame increasing costs, such as pay rises of up to 19 per cent for primary care nurses, a boost which the Government refuses to provide for, saying it is already paying enough. The Government is putting more than $2 billion more into primary healthcare over seven years to reduce patient fees and prescription charges. Advertised GP fees for subsidised adults: average around $27 during business hours, or $16 at low-cost "access" clinics.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Human guinea pigs for NZ diabetes trial

A breakthrough New Zealand pig-cell transplant therapy that could transform the treatment of type-1 diabetes has been given the go-ahead for trial in humans. However, the NZ Herald reported today it was Russia and not New Zealand that had approved the first clinical trials of the treatment, developed in South Auckland more than a decade ago by pioneering Professor Bob Elliott. The newspaper said the Ministry of Health hoped to make a decision within weeks on a similar application by Living Cell Technologies to run a second human trial of its treatment from Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland.
Source:NZPA

Far North Fire Crews Battle Blaze

Far North firefighters are struggling to contain a blaze on conservation land on the Karikari peninsula, north of Kaitaia. Six fire crews, four fire engines and two helicopters with monsoon buckets are working at the scene at Lake Ohia. The Department of Conservation says the fire has already burned off 30 hectares of scrubland, but there is no immediate danger to buildings.
© NewsRoom 2006

Troops help dispose of ammo

New Zealand Defence Force explosive disposal experts have been helping Afghani authorities destroy ammunition. The New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team has travelled to the north of the Bamyan province to help dispose of a cache, which included rockets, bombs and small arms ammunition. The weapons had been found by locals and were confiscated by police or surrendered to local authorities.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Powering the future symposium

New Zealand's first symposium on how the future should be powered gets underway in Auckland tomorrow. The forum, hosted by Auckland University, has attracted overseas energy experts. Event organiser Dr Robert Kirkpatrick says the event is designed to promote high level debate on New Zealand's national energy strategy announced last year. He says America has spent considerable time and money researching alternative energy for cars, including substituting fossil fuels for ethanol made from corn.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Mill closure claims dozens of jobs

Nearly a hundred Southlanders could soon be out of work with the announcement that the American-owned Bright Wood Timber Mill at Otautau in western Southland will close in March. Site manager John Crane says while trading conditions have not been good for some time, it is a big shock and staff are reeling from the news. Mr Crane says the closure comes despite the fact the mill's owners have just spent more than $100,000 on a new electronic control system for one machine.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Wrangling couples urged to seek free help

Couples going through a separation are being advised to seek help to sort out the living arrangements of their children. Relationship Services says free services are available at the Family Court and families should take advantage of them. National Practice Manager Jo-Ann Vivian says recent high profile custody disputes highlight how bad things can get for separating families. She says children often become invisible in times of separation as parents get caught up in their own emotions. She says it is critical for children to be cared for during those times.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Avian malaria threatens native birds

There is concern native birds could be threatened by avian malaria. Landcare Research has found the disease may be more prevalent and widespread than previously thought. The parasite which spreads the malaria has been found in 100 sparrows and blackbirds, prompting fears the bird world stands on the brink of an epidemic. It is believed native birds have little resistance to new diseases.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Hindu scholar finds similarities with Maori culture

Many similarities can be found between Sanskrit, the classical language of India, and Maori, the language and tradition of the indigenous people of New Zealand, according to an Indian scientist. In fact, some Hindu cultural facets are more similar to Maori than most people realise, says senior scientist Dr Guna Magesan, who moved to New Zealand from Nilgiri in India in 1988 to complete a PhD on soil science at Massey University. Next month, Magesan will share his Kiwi experience at the World Hindu Conference to be held in India, where he has been asked to talk about what it is like being a Hindu living in New Zealand, according to Daily Post newspaper. Similarities between Hindu and Maori customs and language are making living in New Zealand an easier transition for some Indian immigrants, said Magesan. "There are at least 185 Sanskrit and other Indian language words similar to the Maori language. For example, 'mana' means pride or self-respect," he said.

Hospitals cull waiting lists by thousands

By Martin Johnston
More than 35,000 people were removed from elective surgery waiting lists in one year - far more than previously disclosed - in the Government's "clean-up" of its hospital rationing system. In the 12 months to October 31, more than 13,000 patients were sent back to their GP, after earlier being promised treatment within six months, or put on active review, the waiting list for patients who are not quite sick or disabled enough to qualify but who might be soon. That number of patients told to go back to their doctors is more than four times higher than four years previously. In 2002, 3129 patients were taken off waiting lists.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Greens slam work for the dole idea

The Green Party says beneficiary bashing is back, with the Maori Party's call for a work-for-the-dole scheme. Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples wanted the unemployed to work or train for their benefit payouts and National said the idea has merit. Employment Minister David Benson-Pope said the idea was similar to a scheme that National attempted previously but had not produced results. Now the Greens industrial spokeswoman Sue Bradford said she was disappointed that the Maori Party had taken the stance. "Maori tend to be at the low pay end of the workforce and hitherto the Maori Party have sought to stand up for the rights of low wage workers," Ms Bradford said. Work-for-the-dole meant people would be forced to work for less than the minimum wage which was already too low without the protection of union membership. "The beneficiary bashing approach that is inherent to the work-for?the-dole scheme failed in the 90s. It will fail again."
Source:NZPA

Looking for love in all the right places

Eighty percent of people still believe the workplace is the ideal hunting ground for true love according to a survey across the Tasman. Seventy-six percent of respondents had been romantically involved with someone in their office, while 57 percent have met their partner at work. Many people might not be aware of some budding romances though - 66 percent keep work relationships a secret to begin with.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Kiri case comes to court

A Sydney court has been told New Zealand's iconic opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa was concerned about performing with Australian rocker John Farnham after finding out fans threw underwear at him, on stage. Dame Kiri is being sued by promoter "Leading Edge Events" for pulling out of three shows with John Farnham scheduled for Sydney and Melbourne, two years ago. The concert's promoters claim the opera singer wouldn't sing "You're the Voice" with the Australian music legend. The hearing continues.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ sees first retail edition of Windows Vista

A new version of the Microsoft Windows operating system is unveiled in New Zealand tonight. The midnight launch in Manukau is the first in the world for Microsoft Windows Vista and the 2007 version of Microsoft Office. It is the first new operating system from Microsoft since the launch of Windows XP and has been over five years in development. New Zealand Marketing manager Brent Colbert says one of its benefits will be tougher parental controls. He says it will allow parents to see what sites their children are visiting and also limit where they go.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Woman held in Dubai on drugs charges

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is providing assistance to a New Zealand woman being held in Dubai on drugs charges. Twenty-one-year-old Mariam Shafeek from Christchurch was detained at the airport after police found a small amount of marijuana. A spokeswoman for the ministry says they are providing her with the same assistance they would with anyone in her situation, including access to lawyers.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Rugby-Family passes for Sevens

Organisers of the Wellington Sevens have put more tickets on sale a week out from the annual tournament.
Ten thousand allocated tickets were snapped up within 20 minutes of going on sale last November but organisers are offering a limited number of family passes to the event. Tickets to the limited alcohol area will only be sold to groups with children and organisers say they will be making sure children are present with all groups on the day.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Positive signs at Swiss forum

New Zealand's push for greater access to the US and European markets has gathered steam following the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Trade Minister Phil Goff says the sensitive issue of farm goods has been a stumbling block that led to the suspension of the Doha round of talks, but he is optimistic world trade talks are back on track.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ's oldest sporting event today

The City of Sails lives up to its name this morning as around 500 vessels take part in the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on the Waitemata Harbour. Billed as the country's oldest sporting event, it begins at 9am with 26 restored tugboats taking part in the parade of sail. The yachts will race from North Head at 10.15am. The first keelboat race starts off Orakei Wharf at 10:30am, with Governor General Anand Satyanand firing the gun for the start of the division one keelbooats at 11am.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ ranking 'no surprise'

Those in the know are not surprised New Zealand ranks highly in an international quality of life survey. International Living magazine has undertaken the survey for the last 26 years, and uses government statistics in nine different areas to make its judgments. New Zealand came fourth behind France, Australia, and the Netherlands and ahead of the fifth-placed United States.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Single market advances

New Zealand and Australia will move a step closer to a single economic market when Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Australia's Treasurer Peter Costello meet in Wellington tomorrow. Mr Costello is visiting New Zealand for annual trans-Tasman talks with Dr Cullen. New Zealand is Australia's third largest investment destination and fifth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth almost $20 billion last financial year. The annual meetings commenced in 2003, to allow the ministers to address regional economic issues and move towards the long-term goal of achieving a single economic market.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

New bill will give more powers

The Revenue Minister is hoping a new bill will give more powers to track down people skipping the country leaving behind more then a billion dollars in unpaid child support. Peter Dunne says the bill, to be introduced in May, will give the Inland Revenue Department access to customs declarations by international travellers. He says at the moment they rely on people reporting a child support defaulter is in a certain place. Mr Dunne says this will give the department an indication of where people with unpaid child support are heading. He says it also means that through reciprocal agreements with other countries, they will be able to track people down and ensure they meet their commitments. Mr Dunne believes most of the people have gone to Australia to avoid paying child support.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Greenpeace Welcomes UK Anti-Whaling Moves

Environmental group Greenpeace is welcoming a British initiative to secure an anti-whaling majority on the International Whaling Commission. Last year, pro-hunting nations gained a majority for the first time in 20 years. Now the British government is publishing a brochure aimed at persuading nations opposed to whaling to join the Commission. Greenpeace New Zealand spokesperson Jo McVeagh says it is encouraging to see another country stepping up attempts to regain the majority.
© NewsRoom 2006

US woman lost in bush for four days

An American woman tramper has survived three nights and four days on her own in bush west of National Park Village, police disclosed tonight. The 21-year-old student, who has not been named, endured tough conditions in Erua Forest with no food, little water and inadequate clothing and footwear. No one searched for her because no one knew she was missing. The woman set out on a local track on Monday without telling anyone where she was going.
Source:NZPA

Ruapehu lake rising

Scientists are visiting the crater lake at Mt Ruapehu weekly, and have found the level is now just one and a half metres below the top of the lake's dam. Dave Wakelin from DOC says the seepage from the lake has also increased by about 50 percent. But he says in the scheme of things it is not a huge amount - about two laundry buckets per second. Mr Wakelin says current estimates are looking at a lahar within the next month.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Worsening economy for farmers

Farmers' confidence is at a 10-year low because of the high New Zealand dollar and a mixed outlook for commodity prices. More than a third of farmers surveyed last month expect the rural economy to deteriorate this year. Federated Farmers says the waning confidence is especially felt by beef and sheep farmers. President Charlie Pedersen says the picture is gloomy because most of them would not be able to pay their overdrafts as they have not earned enough to cover expenses. He says very few farmers will post a profit and that is going to have an effect on the tax take and flow on into support industries.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Thousands enjoy Clapton concert

A crowd of about 26,000 turned out for Saturday night's Eric Clapton concert at The Mission Estate Winery in Napier. Security was stepped up for the event with 135 police on hand, and security staff flown in from Australia. Slowhand performed hits including Cocaine' and Layla but one reviewer says the power song of the night was Clapton's 1977 ballad Wonderful Tonight - written for his then love Pattie Boyd.
Source:One News

Cook Islands-Cyclone warning

RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS ---- A tropical cyclone warning is today in force for Aitutaki, Mauke and nearby smaller islands in the Southern Cook Islands as Cyclone Arthur strengthens and moves towards them. Radio Cook Islands reports at 11am local time that a tropical cyclone alert was in force for the rest of the Southern Cooks, including Rarotonga.

Move to control Abel Tasman's visitor tally

By HELEN MURDOCH - The Press
The 774ha foreshore of Abel Tasman National Park will today become a scenic reserve in a bid to control spiralling visitor numbers. The reserve's draft management plan calls for commercial operators using it to hold concessions – a new requirement for water taxi owners, which could limit their passenger numbers. The park is visited by about 150,000 people a year, 30,000 of whom stay overnight, and its coastal track is the most heavily used in the country. The pressure visitors place on the park's ecology and facilities has been a growing concern for years.

Daytime Ban On Commercial Longline Fishing

Longline fishing for tuna and swordfish has been banned during daylight hours after 51 albatross were killed by just one boat using the method late last year. As a result of the incident, other measures are also being introduced to protect the endangered species, which only dives for fish during the day. These include a requirement that boats inform the authorities five days before they set out, so an inspector can accompany them. Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton says he appreciates the impact this will have on the multi-million dollar industry, but it is clear that self regulation is not working.
© NewsRoom 2006

Parachute festival off to roaring start

Crowds of more than 25,000 people have been dancing the night away at Mystery Creek near Hamilton.
It's the largest Christian music festival in the southern hemisphere, and punters at Parachute '07 are crowded into the Mystery Creek showground for the four-day event. With seven stages and more than a hundred bands, the festival got off to a roaring start on the main stage on Friday night, with Auckland's hip hop band Nesian Mystik drawing huge applause for their trademark combination of rap and vocal harmonies. Saturday sees a packed programme with festival favourites The Lads, from Tennessee, and energetic Kiwi band Spacifix. More than a 100,000 people are expected to attend over the four days of the festival.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

IRD crackdown on overseas debt dodgers

People with student loan and child support debts who are try to leave the country could soon find it harder to escape their debts. Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says he wants to give the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) access to customs declarations in a bill in May. The IRD would then get other countries to collect child support from New Zealand parents overseas, using addresses on travel documents, the New Zealand Herald reported. Officials would chase up parents and students when they arrived back in New Zealand for visits or permanently. Student loan and child support debtors will not be barred from leaving at this stage but Mr Dunne wants it looked into.
Source:NZPA

Whale-stricken yacht recovered

Raglan Coastguard has recovered the yacht which was destroyed in a collision with a whale earlier this month. The boat Loose Goose became engulfed in water after it crashed into a humpback whale off Port Waikato. The owner of the $38,000 yacht was rescued by helicopter, but the boat was declared a write-off, and there were doubts it would ever be recovered. Raglan Coastguard president Kevin Dreaver says the boat was spotted by a fisherman who radioed for help to tow it in.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

New Zealand Judge named to Tonga supreme court

NUKUALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, January 25) – Mr Justice John Laurenson (69) was appointed as Tonga’s new Supreme Court Judge, from January 24, 2007. Justice Laurenson, who is a recently retired High Court judge from Auckland, New Zealand, will be assisting Tonga’s Chief Justice, Hon. Anthony Ford, with the hearing of court cases at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court. Justice Laurenson's recruitment to Tonga was made possible through NZAID, the aid donor agency of the New Zealand Government.

Employers gear up for extra leave

Employers and workers are preparing for the introduction of a minimum of an extra week's leave from April 1. The summer holiday is barely over but employers are already working out the logistics of the next holiday with the extra entitlement creating a dilemma for bosses who already give staff more than the legal requirement. On April 1 workers annual leave will increase from three to four weeks minimum and some workers who already get four weeks will receive five.
Source:One News

Doctor who refused to go to war in Iraq back in Dunedin

Malcolm Kendall-Smith is back at his mother's home in Dunedin. The former Royal Air Force doctor, jailed last April for refusing to go to war in Iraq, says he is unable to give an interview under the conditions of the British Official Secrets Act. It was understood 38-year-old Kendall-Smith had been spending time in Dunedin since late last month, the Otago Daily Times reported today. The former flight lieutenant was discharged from the military and imprisoned after being found guilty by a courts martial panel of five charges of failing to obey a lawful order. He was also fined STG20,000 ($NZ57,240). He had compared the invasion of Iraq to a Nazi war crime.
Source:NZPA

Parachute crowds begin to gather

A week after the Big Day Out, a rock festival with a different flavour - and an even bigger crowd - is gearing up south of Hamilton. Parachute 2007 is the largest Christian rock festival in the southern hemisphere, and thousands of people are already unpacking their tents at Mystery Creek. Around 100,000 people are expected to pass through the gates over the four days of the festival.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ winemakers target Japan

By MARTA STEEMAN - The Press
New Zealand wine makers are making a bid to break into the young Japanese wine market this week with a showcase of 165 wines. The annual New Zealand Wine Fair in Tokyo was packed with 600 consumers, a lot of them young and fashionable Japanese wine enthusiasts, sampling the many wines on show from 46 Kiwi wineries. More than 30 per cent of the wineries were hoping to bag a distributor for their wines which is critical to breaking into this market.

Cricket-Astle Calls It Quits On International Stage

New Zealand cricketer Nathan Astle has confirmed he is retiring from international cricket effective immediately. Astle made his international debut 13 years ago and has played 81 tests averaging 37 and 223 one-day internationals averaging 35. He says he has been fighting the decision for the past eight months as he desperately wanted to play in April’s World Cup in the Caribbean. But he says he simply lacks motivation and is not enjoying the game
© NewsRoom 2006

Not much extra to eat well

Eating healthily does not cost the earth. An Auckland University study has found that, on average, it will cost an extra $7 to fill a shopping trolley with healthy food. It finds people should be more aware of how easy it is to live on a more wholesome diet. Researcher Dr Cliona Ni Mhurchu says there are many reasons why people struggle to adapt. She says taste, habits and what people are used to cooking and eating may play a very big part in the kinds of foods purchased on a daily basis.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Netball Champs in Auckland

Auckland has won the race to host the Netball World Championships later this year, beating off the bid by Christchurch. The tournament will run from November 10-17.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Whaling video being released

The Government is about to fire a fresh salvo at the Japanese over their whaling activities in the Southern Ocean. Conservation Minister Chris Carter is releasing new video footage of Japanese whaling practices. The images were taken by crew on board an Air Force Orion yesterday. Japan has called a special meeting of members of the International Whaling Commission next month to help lift a global moratorium on hunting of whales. Anti-whaling countries may boycott the assembly.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Expert advice on wasp attacks - run away

An insect expert says if a person is approached by a swarm of wasps - the first thing to do is run. An 87-year-old Masterton woman remains in a serious condition in Wairarapa Hospital suffering from multiple wasp stings, after she accidentally disturbed a wasp nest in her garden. The woman was forced to lay on the ground covered in wasps which continued to sting her for around 30 minutes until help arrived. Entomologist, Ruud Kleinpaste says if a person steps on a nest they need to get as far away from it as they can. He says it is also important to cover up as much bare skin as possible.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Call for participants in breast cancer study

Doctors need more women aged between 40 and 70 to sign up for a study to see if breast cancer can be prevented. Close to 2000 women have already put their names down - 8000 more are still needed to take part in the worldwide study to see if a hormone drug, anastrozole, can help prevent breast cancer. The drug has been widely and successfully used to treat breast cancer for many years and now doctors want to see if it can help prevent breast cancer as well. Anyone wanting to get involved or find out more details about the eligibility requirements is urged to call 0800 888 656.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Dame Kiri to make court appearance

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will be making a a different kind of appearance next week. Australia's Daily Telegraph says Te Kanawa has been called to appear in a court case in the Australian Supreme Court from Monday - accused of refusing to sing with John Farnham. Australian promoters Leading Edge Events was forced to cancel a series of concerts featuring Dame Kiri and Farnham two years ago, after the diva withdrew. Promoted as "Two Great Voices", tickets for the show were sold by table for almost $11,000. At the time of the concerts' cancellation, there were rumours Dame Kiri had complained Farnham was "too chatty on stage". The Daily Telegraph says the case could cost her more than $300,000.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Dog owners warned of car dangers

The SPCA is warning dog owners they will be prosecuted if they are found to be leaving their dogs to parch in the car. The organisation says there is a noticeable increase in cases of dogs being locked in cars without inadequate ventilation in the summer months. Auckland Inspectorate Manager, David Lloyd-Barker, says it takes just minutes for a car to reach 60 degrees Celsius in a locked up car on a sunny day. He says a dog can perish in such conditions in just six minutes. The maximum penalty under the Animal Welfare Act is six months in jail or a fine of up to $25,000.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Australian university closes Fiji campus

The University of Central Queensland is closing its Fiji campus in the capital, Suva. The university's Vice Chancellor, John Rickard, says the campus has struggled to attract international students, and current enrolments are too low for it to remain viable. The 350 students enrolled for the new academic year will be offered the chance to continue studying through the university's distance education units in either New Zealand or Australia.

Thousands Gather To Celebrate Ratana Church Founder's Birthday

Thousands of Ratana followers have gathered at Ratana Pa to celebrate the birthday of the church's founder. Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana was born on this day 134 years ago. Ratana members are now gathering around the temple he opened in 1925 for the event. Yesterday MPs from both major political parties visited the Marae to pay their respects and give speeches outlining their aims for Maori. But a Ratana spokesperson Wayne Johnson says today is the most important day for the followers.
© NewsRoom 2007

Police Heads Defend Decision To Prosecute Speeding Officer

The police have defended their decision to prosecute an officer who broke the speed limit to attend a school bus crash last year. A dangerous driving charge against Winton-based Sergeant Gregory Smith was not proven in the Invercargill District Court yesterday. The southern road policing manager at the time of the incident, Inspector Carey Griffiths, says the police made the right decision to prosecute Sergeant Smith. He says at the time, there was already other backup on the way to the crash. Inspector Griffiths says even though the police have the power to exceed the speed limit, they must balance that with the obligation to drive safely.
© NewsRoom 2006

PS3 to hit NZ March 23

Sony Computer Entertainment will release its PlayStation 3 (PS3) video game console to the Australian and New Zealand markets on March 23. The 60 gigabyte version of the system will sell for about $1,000 at Australian retailers, with a smaller 20 gigabyte model to be released later in the year. The Australian launch coincides with the product's release in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand, which will also use the PAL television format.

Climber survives while two companions killed on Mt Cook (update)

A lucky break literally saved the life of a Japanese climber whose two companions plunged about 500m to their deaths on Mt Cook last night. The bodies of a 53-year-old man and a 31-year old woman were recovered this morning after they fell onto the Upper Linda Glacier while descending the mountain about 9pm yesterday. Police tonight released the names of the two climbers. They were Takao Futono, 52, and woman friend Meguru Inoue, 31. Rescuers said the woman climber had apparently begun abseiling, with her two companions above her, when the rock all three were anchored to gave way. A falling rock sliced off the 28-year-old survivor's strap, separating him from his companions and saving him from being pulled down with them.
Source:NZPA

Wealthy charity donor driven away

By DAVID KING and JOHN HENZELL
New Zealand's richest woman quit the country after the Government refused to relax tax rules to help her give away a big part of her fortune to charity. Reclusive Kathmandu founder Jan Cameron has moved to Tasmania after spending more than 30 years in Christchurch, where she built a $275 million business fortune. The Press understands Cameron had looked at staying in New Zealand after selling Kathmandu last year and planned to donate a portion of her annual income from her investments to charities. But under the New Zealand tax regime, all the money she gave away over an $1800 threshold would be taxed, so she opted to move to Australia, where there is no limit.

Discovery of plant creates global stir

By KIM THOMAS - The Press
A Christchurch City Council gardener has helped discover a species of native buttercup in the North Otago mountain ranges.
Gardener and amateur botanist Joe Cartman took a yellow flower he came across while tramping on Mount St Mary, North Otago, to his friend and Landcare Research botanist Peter Heenan to investigate in 1998. After exhaustive testing, the large buttercup has been confirmed as a new species, and its discovery has been trumpeted in prestigious international science journals. Heenan, who worked for more than seven years to validate Cartman's find, said the discovery of the Ranunculus acraeus was significant because entirely new native species were rarely found.

Obesity epidemic "an illusion"

An Australian professor is flying in the face of claims her country is in the grip of an obesity epidemic.
Jan Wright, the associate dean of education at the University of Wollongong, says the commonly reported belief that Australians are getting fatter is a money-wasting illusion. She will outline her views today at a conference at the New South Wales university today. Academics from New Zealand, Britain and Canada are attending. Professor Wright says the whole idea of an obesity epidemic is one which has been manufactured to give plenty of income to fitness, food and pharmaceutical industries.
She also disputes the Body Mass Index, which uses height and weight measurements to determine the amount of body fat. She believes it is not an accurate indication of weight as it fails to take account for factors such as people who are big and muscular. She says if the BMI scale was used, the All Blacks (NZ rugby team) would technically register as obese.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Japanese climbers die on Mt Cook

The bodies of two Japanese climbers missing on Aoraki/Mt Cook have been located. A search and rescue operation was launched at first light in a bid to find the two men. Searchers were alerted when a third member of the party managed to walk out to raise the alarm. Constable Carl Pederson says it appears the climbers died when they fell while abseiling during their descent from the summit. The bodies were located at about 6.30am on the Lindis Ice Shelf.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Crowded House back

After days of speculation, Crowded House has confirmed it will re-form this year, release a new album and embark on a world tour. Neil Finn made the announcement last night, saying the band was putting the finishing touches to an album called "Time on Earth". Auditions are being held to find a replacement drummer for Paul Hester, who died in 2005.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ urges UN to drop Fiji peacekeepers

The Prime Minister has confirmed attempts have been made to persuade the United Nations not to use Fijian troops as peacekeepers. The Greens want the Government to pressure the UN to live up to its threat to curtail peacekeeping work for Fiji because of the coup carried out by Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Helen Clark says the Government has made it very clear to the UN that it does not believe the organisation should be using Fijian troops for peacekeeping. She says unfortunately the Government's point of view has not been supported by the United States, the United Kingdom, or the UN bureaucracy.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Greens criticise Australia over Kyoto

The New Zealand Green Party seems intent on putting a dampener on Australia Day celebrations. Party co-leader Russell Norman and MP Sue Kedgley are paying a visit to the Australian High Commission in Wellington today. They are taking with them John Howard look-a-likes and thirsty Kangaroos in a protest to call on the Australian Government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Russell Norman says as a major Greenhouse gas polluter Australia has an obligation to correct the damage. He says instead, John Howard is continuing to stick his head in the sand of his drought-ravaged country.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ backs holocaust resolution

A UN resolution condemning denials of the Holocaust sponsored by 72 countries, including New Zealand, has been introduced by the United States. The resolution comes just weeks after Iran sponsored a meeting dominated by speakers questioning the extermination of six million Jews in World War II. A total of 72 nations so far are sponsoring the resolution in the 192-member General Assembly, including all countries in Europe, Israel, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
The United States and its allies hope for a vote in the General Assembly on Friday.

New Supply Of Adrenaline Secured

PHARMAC says a secure supply of adrenaline has been found following an interruption to supplies because of an international manufacturing problem. Adrenaline is an essential drug used in emergency situations such as life-threatening allergic reactions and cardiac arrest. PHARMAC deputy medical director Dilky Rasiah says the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has been able to offer supplies, which will provide coverage for up to eight months.
© NewsRoom 2006

Sea lettuce no picnic for Mount residents

By Juliet Rowan
It's green, ankle-deep and threatening to cause a stink at Mt Maunganui. Sea lettuce has washed up in thick patches, some up to a kilometre long, on the Mount beaches in the past few days. Locals say it is the largest quantity of the grass-coloured algae in years, and, unless the tide takes it away, it will begin to rot and smell. The regional council, Environment Bay of Plenty, has monitored sea lettuce in the area since the early 1990s and says its appearance is linked to an El Nino weather event. "When we get a big abundance of sea lettuce, it coincides with the El Nino events and we're in an El Nino at the moment," council scientist and manager of environmental investigations John McIntosh said.
By Juliet Rowan

Billionaire Rescues People From Burning Boat

Billionaire businessman Graeme Hart came to the rescue of three people and their dog after a boat fire at Waiheke Island last night. The blaze onboard the 30-foot launch started shortly before midnight in Church Bay. Waiheke Island Chief Fire Officer Ron Leonard says by the time he and his crew reached the scene the boat had drifted away. Mr Leonard says fortunately Mr Hart saw the drama unfold and went to assist - bringing those on board to shore where an ambulance was waiting. A woman was flown to Auckland Hospital with severe burns.
© NewsRoom 2006

MRSA mutation likely to hit NZ

By IAN STEWARD - The Press
An "absolutely terrifying" Texan variant of super-bug MRSA that infects the young and healthy will probably reach New Zealand, Christchurch microbiologists say. New Zealand already has methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) but it is normally acquired in hospitals, where people have lowered immune defences. Hospitals in Texas have recorded 5000 cases of people affected by the lethal bacteria USA 300 CA-MRSA since 2000. They include 200 invasive infections such as necrotising pneumonia, which causes abscesses in the lungs. About three-quarters of patients with this type of pneumonia die.

Tactical Low Flying Exercise Planned

More than 250 members of the air force and army are in Hawke's Bay for an 11-day exercise on tactical low-level flying in hostile conditions. Exercise Skytrain is designed to train Hercules aircrews to drop large payloads by parachute onto a specific target within a given time. Squadron Leader Peter Rowe says it is the major exercise for this year for 40 squadron based at Whenuapai and includes an aircraft and crew from New Caledonia. He says it aims to train aircrews for military operations and to help people in the South Pacific hit by natural disasters.
© NewsRoom 2007

Unsettled weather for Mission Concert

Mission goers this year may need to pack the wet weather gear for Hawkes Bay’s largest concert event of 2007. The Bay’s warm, settled conditions over the past few days are fading into memory as air pressure begins to fall and a depression is now forecast to cross the North Island late on Friday and into Saturday. Rain should start in Napier on Friday and continue into Saturday morning. The good news is that the showers should clear the region during the evening and it may be dry by the time Eric Clapton takes the stage.
© Weatherstation 2007

Stewart Island wanted as showcase

The Department of Conservation is being urged to be bold and ambitious in its plan for Stewart Island. The Tourism Industry Association wants the department to consider developing a green sanctuary to rival any other eco-tourism destination in the world. It believes the island's extraordinary sea and bird life and unique native flora could encourage more visitors to the country. The association also feels Stewart Island's remote position means it has kept a lot of its natural integrity.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ Calls For Timetable For Return To Democracy

New Zealand wants to see a credible timetable for a return to constitutional government in Fiji before it will reconsider the sanctions it imposed in response to last month’s coup. Prime Minister Helen Clark dismissed talk of a five-year timetable today and made it clear the Government still considers Fiji unsafe under military-installed rule. She again resisted threats by Fiji’s coup leader, interim prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama, to impose tit-for-tat sanctions against New Zealand for what he has called bullying by New Zealand and Australia, and moves to seek backing from Asian countries.
© NewsRoom 2006

Kiwi tipped to head up BSkyB

New Zealander Tom Mockridge is being tipped as the next chief executive of British Sky Broadcasting, one of the key components of Rupert Murdoch's global media empire. Mr Mockridge, formerly both chief executive of Independent Newspapers and chairman of pay TV group Sky Network Television, will replace Mr Murdoch's son James as BSkyB's chief executive during the coming British summer, The Mail on Sunday reported.
Source:Dominion Post

Crown to assess NZ biofuel potential

A deal announced today between two Crown Research Institutes and a US company is said to open up the possibility of New Zealand's entire vehicle fleet ultimately running on biofuels grown and manufactured in this country. The three parties are CRIs Scion and AgResearch and San Diego-based Diversa Corporation which has pioneered the development of high-performance specialty enzymes. In a statement today the partners said they had agreed to co-ordinate technology development to investigate the feasibility of a transportation biofuel industry in this country using bio-based feedstocks such as trees and grasses. A recently finished preliminary study, undertaken at Scion in Rotorua and Diversa in San Diego, had investigated the potential for applying Diversa's enzymes to New Zealand-grown tree stocks to convert the wood into sugars, which could then be fermented and refined into ethanol and other products.
Source:NZPA

South Auckland cries out for midwives

South Auckland is crying out for more midwives as a massive baby boom has left Counties Manukau struggling to cope. In the last five years the numbers of babies born has gone up from 5,000 to 7,000. Miracles are happening every day at Middlemore Hospital, which itself is in desperate need of a lifeline - its delivery suite is bursting at the seams with some midwives coping with 10 babies born in just two and a half hours. "The staff are stretched to the absolute maximum point they can be," says Dr Keith Allenby, Clinical Director. Counties Manukau has half the number of midwives it needs.
Source:One News

Auckland at risk of simultaneous volcanic eruptions

At least five volcanoes in Auckland were born together and the city remains at risk of further simultaneous eruptions, according to a study released today. The Auckland University results showed that the volcanoes of Puketutu, Crater Hill, Wiri, Mt Richmond and Taylor Hill all erupted within 50 to 100 years of each other, possibly at the same time. The research further suggested that Auckland and some other major cities could be at risk of future simultaneous multiple eruptions, Dr John Cassidy, of the University's School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science department, said.
Source:NZPA

Rare whales die after stranding in Golden Bay

By HAYLEY GALE - The Nelson Mail
Two of three rare strap-toothed whales which stranded in Golden Bay have died after a failed rescue attempt by Department of Conservation staff. The third of the whales which stranded on Sunday night was expected to die on Monday night and attempts are being made to send it to Te Papa in Wellington for scientific study. The whales were believed to be a family group of a mother and two juveniles. DOC spokesman Hans Stroffregen said five staff refloated an adult female whale spotted by a member of the public near Pakawau on Sunday morning.

Insecticide Cause Of 200 Bird Deaths

Scientific tests have identified an insecticide as being responsible for more than 200 bird deaths in Havelock North. In November about 200 sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, ducks and magpies were found dead, mainly in Anderson Park.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council says tests show the birds, and a dog and cat, died from ingesting a chemical called Mevinphos.
Mevinphos used to be licensed in New Zealand under the trade name of Phosdrin for the control of aphids on a variety of vegetable crops. The regional council says the chemical has not been legal for use for many years.
© NewsRoom 2007

Trampers benefit from beacons

Rescue officials say an overnight callout in Fiordland highlights the importance of carrying an emergency beacon in the great outdoors. Two trampers activated their beacon from the Kintail Hut area of the Dusky Track after being caught by heavy rain and rising waters southwest of Lake Manapouri. The signal was received by the Rescue Coordination Centre, which alerted a local helicopter firm. The trampers were picked up and flown to Lake Te Anau within two hours of setting off the beacon.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Ship's visit pumps thousands into economy

The arrival in Auckland of the world's largest cruise ship is estimated to pump more than $500,000 worth of business into the local economy. P&O's Sapphire Princess has tied up for the day on what is the first of five visits this summer.
She weighs 116,000 tonnes, carries almost 3,000 passengers and 1100 crew. Passengers will spend the day in Auckland before the ship sails for Tauranga tonight.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Cabinet ministers meet

Cabinet ministers have met for the first time, in what is a critical year for the Government. Newstalk ZB's political staff say it was all smiles as the 23 ministers took their seats, looking tanned and refreshed after a long break. First and foremost on their minds now, will be how to tackle those matters which plagued Labour for most of last year; the issue of paying back its $825,000 election over-spend, coupled with the Taito Phillip Field debacle have not gone away. The government is faced with coming up with a whole new strategy to deal with a fresh and rejuvenated National party front-bench. Labour knows this year will be critical to its ambition of taking out the next election to make it four in a row.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Police called in over CYF blog

The Ministry of Social Development has called in the police over website postings of personal information about Child Youth and Family social workers. The anonymous blog has published names and descriptions of social workers it claims have bullied and intimidated families. It is also offering to post photographs, and private addresses. The Ministry says social workers have a tough job and admit they do not always get it right. However, chief executive Peter Hughes says the blog goes too far. He says its criticisms and libels are unfair and incorrect and they also put the safety of CYF workers and their families at risk.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Mahia protestors barricade road

A dramatic early morning protest blocked the main road to the coastal settlement of Mahia in northern Hawke's Bay. Land rights protesters felled two trees over the road saying it cuts through an ancestral burial ground in which three ancestors are buried. The protestors are opposed to the scale of planned development on the peninsula. "The whole section of the road both sides is going to be absolutely fenced off and it will never be used as a public access way ever," says protestor Alice Wairau. The road has run across Maori reserve land since the 1950s, but Wairoa District Mayor Les Probert says it has been sealed and maintained by the council as a public access.
Source:One News

NZ won't bow to Fiji's demands, says Clark

WELLINGTON - New Zealand would look "a little silly" if it bowed to threats by Fijian military commander Frank Bainimarama to retaliate against sanctions imposed by New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today. Cdre Bainimarama threatened to retaliate after Parmesh Chand, the new head of the Fiji Prime Minister's Office under Cdre Bainimarama's regime, was denied entry to New Zealand to visit his family. But Miss Clark said Australia, Canada, the United States, the European Union, South Africa, the United Nations, and the Commonwealth had all taken a similar position to New Zealand in reacting strongly to Fiji's coup.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Mauri Ora Exhibition Opens In Japan

An exhibition of Maori taonga from Te Papa was officially opened in a dawn ceremony in Japan today. Mauri Ora: Treasures from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is an exhibition of Maori artefacts and treasures that has been five years in the planning. More than 120 taonga will be on view until March at the Tokyo National Museum, making it one of the largest exhibitions of Maori treasures ever held outside of New Zealand.
© NewsRoom 2006

Leadership scheme being launched

Sir Edmund Hillary is lending his name to a million-dollar incentive to encourage great leadership. Details are being released by Prime Minister Helen Clark at Scott Base in Antarctica today. One of New Zealand's richest woman and Kathmandu founder Jan Cameron is thought to be putting up $2 million to launch the Hillary Institute. The institute will provide a $1 million grant every four years to a encourage and inspire a great leader, who can come from any field. Further details of the scheme are under wraps until the official launch.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Taupo welcomes grand prix

Taupo has big plans for the A1 Grand Prix in years to come. The inaugural New Zealand round has gone off without a hitch, with the added boost of New Zealand grabbing third place in the sprint and feature races. The central North Island town was abuzz with tens of thousands of people. Mayor Clayton Stent says the town plans to make the most of the next two years of the event and will turn it into a carnival week. He would like to have the Taupo round a permanent fixture on the A1GP calendar.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Kiwi group tops Australian music charts

Ten years after OMC topped the Australian singles charts with How Bizarre, another Kiwi group has reached number one across the Tasman. Evermore have hit the top spot with their single Light Surrounding You. The Feilding brothers Jon, Peter and Dann Hume, who make up the band, are based in Sydney and are currently playing the Big Day Out circuit. Light Surrounding You recently featured on Home and Away in a tribute to long running character Sally Fletcher.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Creator defends anti-CYF website

The creator of a website which criticises and gives personal details of Child Youth and Family workers is defending its actions. The website was launched for disgruntled parents to take out their frustrations against case workers.
So far the website only names one case worker, and makes personal attacks against her appearance and work decisions.
The creator, who wants to remain anonymous, says they chose to start the website because they claim it is a waste of time complaining through the appropriate channels as they are "self perpetuating" in favour of the social workers. They say the purpose of finding personal details about the social workers is to ensure transparency and accountability, which they claim is currently lacking at CYF.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Good time for job hunters

There could be no better time to consider changing jobs. Business confidence is the highest it has been in four years but firms are being held back by a shortage of both skilled and unskilled workers. For skilled job-hunters in particular, the choice of vacancies is likely to continue. With business confidence at a four-year high, the number of firms planning to hire more staff has more than doubled since September. Nearly one-in-five companies say the difficulty of finding workers is the biggest thing holding them back. Recruiters and employers are looking are broadening their sights, considering more older workers.
Source:One News

NZ company makes waves in Italy

A tiny player in New Zealand's marine industry has won a contract with the Italian fire service. The half million dollar deal for six amphibious craft is a modest one but the marine industry says it promises the fledgling Sealegs company a shot at a lucrative niche market. The Kiwi ingenuity will soon be put to the test half a world away after Italian officials spied the inflatable, which comes with its own set of wheels, at a boat show in Southampton last year. Sealegs chief executive David McKee says the Italians gave the vessel a stringent workout before the fire service ordered six of the amphibious craft for rescues in flood prone areas.
Source:One News

Sir Ed Berates Britain Over Antarctic Huts

Sir Edmund Hillary says Britain should step in to help preserve the historic huts in Antarctica that its own famous explorers established over 100 years ago. The huts, including those of Shackleton and Scott, are as the explorers left them, with cans and bottles of food on kitchen shelves, newspapers and tools all untouched. But the buildings and artefacts require urgent conservation work at a cost of about $9 million. The New Zealand government already pays for the administrative costs of the Antarctic heritage trust, and has been trying to convince Britain to ensure the huts do not deteriorate any further. Sir Edmund, who visited the huts in Antarctica today, says he can not understand why Britain will not contribute.
© NewsRoom 2007

Free sunnies to protect pupils

By LEIGH VAN DER STOEP - Sunday Star Times
The future's so bright for kids starting school this year that each will get a free pair of sunglasses. More than 20,000 five-year-olds will get sunnies as part of a national campaign to raise awareness about sun damage to eyes. Visique Optometrists will provide participating schools with vouchers - by last week 746 had replied to the invitation. Mt Maunganui optometrist Keith Miller said it was vital parents cared for their children's eyes. "Children receive three times the annual UV exposure of adults. That means by the time you're 20, you've had 80% of the sun exposure you'll get in a lifetime."

More get legal aid

By GREG MEYLAN - Sunday Star Times
New legal aid rules will make it easier for more Kiwis to go to court to sort out family problems such as marriage break-ups and child custody disputes. From March, the salary band which allows people to get legal aid will rise for the first time in 20 years, increasing the number eligible to apply from 765,000 to 1.2 million. Legal aid is designed to to avoid miscarriages of justice by ensuring everyone has access to a lawyer regardless of whether they can pay.

Bruce McLaren goes Hollywood

By ROBYN McLEAN - The Dominion Post
The wife of motor-racing icon Bruce McLaren thinks Hollywood star Tom Cruise would be the best choice to play the part of her late husband. A $140 million movie about the life of legendary Kiwi racing diver Bruce McLaren will be made in Wellington next year. The film will follow McLaren's life from the hip problem that crippled him as a child through to his becoming one of motor racing's biggest stars. The Formula 1 driver, who also designed and manufactured racing cars, was killed on June 2, 1970, when his Can Am car crashed during testing at the Goodwood Circuit in England. His name lives on in Team McLaren, one of the most successful in the history of Formula 1 racing.

Cancer rates lure experts

By RUTH HILL - Sunday Star Times
High blood cancer rates among Maori and Pacific Islanders are luring international cancer researchers to New Zealand seeking clues to causes, and possible cures. American haematologist Dr Dennis Gastineau from the Mayo Clinic - one of the world's top cancer treatment and research facilities - says New Zealand is a potentially fertile area for investigation because of the ethnic differences and because such groups are integrated into the national health system. "This provides an opportunity to study why the disease is more prevalent in certain communities, whether there is a genetic component and how much is environment and lifestyle," said Gastineau, in Wellington last week for the clinic's blood cancers symposium.

Petition calls for extra daylight saving hours

It seems the summer, or lack of it, has prompted more support for daylight saving to be extended. Nelson city councillor Mark Holmes and United Future Party leader Peter Dunne are gathering signatures for a petition, calling for an extra three weeks of daylight saving at the end of summer. Mr Dunne says it is becoming appealing to many people, as most of the country has missed out on a decent summer this year. He says what they are asking for is hardly a big change, as at the moment New Zealand is below the international average in terms of hours of daylight.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Wagon Tour Begins In South Island

A convoy of wild west-style wagons begins a six week-long journey in Bluff this morning. The unusual procession has been put together to raise money for the Lion Foundation Rescue Helicopter, and will follow back country roads up the South Island to Picton. Organiser Ellwin Cowie says the convoy will be a spectacular sight, involving 25 people and 50 horses.She expects they will cover up to 40 kilometres a day, and large horse trucks full of feed will travel with the wagons.
The wagons leave Bluff today for Invercargill and will then travel to Gore, Alexandra and Geraldine, then Hanmer and on to Picton.
© NewsRoom 2007

Possum causes massive fire

An unlucky possum caused a large fire in the Remarkables yesterday. The blaze spread through 50 hectares, after it started in the Rastus Burn Recreation Reserve around midnight the night before. Wakatipu DOC spokesman Nick Edwards says fire safety investigators have found a possum set the dry bush alight, when it caught fire trying to cross two electrical lines. While he says it sounds unusual, it is actually not the first time a fire has started in this way. Nick Edwards says unfortunately, the possum did not stand a chance of survival.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Fiji threatens retaliation

The war of words between New Zealand's Foreign Minister and Fiji's coup leader is heating up. Fiji's self-appointed ruler is threatening retaliation against New Zealand for travel sanctions imposed on members of his new regime. New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs says he is unmoved by the threats. Winston Peters says Commodore Frank Bainimarama was told very clearly last November what the consequences of any coup would be. Mr Peters says if the impact of those warnings is now starting to bite, then the Commodore should not be surprised. Winston Peters is unmoved by threats of retaliation from the leader of Fiji's coup, and is reported to have said those threats are 'stupid.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Patients may get electronic tags

By KAMALA HAYMAN - The Press
Hospital patients could be electronically tagged to help staff keep track of those in the system, as a result of technology being developed by New Zealand firms. The New Zealand Health IT Cluster, an alliance of health IT organisations, is overseeing a raft of major IT projects for sale to health boards and GPs both in this country and internationally. Among them is the electronic tagging of hospital patients and their beds. This will allow managers to track both through the hospital and prevent departments "hoarding" scarce beds. In a summary on the project, the cluster said hospitals not only found it difficult to know exactly where a patient was, they did not know where their spare beds were, with scarce resources such as beds sometimes "hoarded causing them to be underutilised".

Govt warns of violence in the Southern Ocean

The Government has urged Japan and anti-whaling protesters to avoid putting lives at risk in the Southern Ocean. Conservation Minister Chris Carter said yesterday Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society were ready to square off with Japan's whaling fleet. He said contact had been made with the Japanese government and the two environmental organisations to express concern about safety in Antarctic waters. "The Antarctic is one of the most dangerous and isolated places on the planet," Mr Carter said at a reception on board the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza in Auckland. "Although New Zealand has the responsibility for maritime rescue operations in the Ross Sea region, the isolation and extreme conditions means that our search and rescue capacity in this area is very limited."
Source:NZPA

Woman to head Police Complaints Authority

In another first for New Zealand women, Justice Lowell Goddard has been appointed to head the Police Complaints Authority. Justice Goddard, a Wellington-based High Court judge, will replace retiring Judge Ian Borrin at the helm of the police watchdog organisation. Judge Borrin turns 72 next month, the statutory retirement age for the authority. In making the appointment on behalf of the Minister of Justice, Winnie Laban said Justice Goddard had considerable experience in the criminal justice system and was well qualified to perform the duties of the authority.
Source:NZPA

Maori and Pakeha income gap closing

The gap between Maori and Pakeha incomes has closed significantly in the past five years, the census shows. A close analysis of last year's census by the New Zealand Herald shows that the median income of Maori has jumped 41 per cent since the 2001 Census, from $14,800 to $20,900 a year, the newspaper reported today. In the same period, the median income of the total population rose 31 per cent, to $24,400. Maori had also made stronger gains than Pakeha in employment and post-school qualifications. However, non-Census data shows that "closing the gaps" was proving harder in other areas such as health, welfare and crime.
Source:NZPA

Fiji's military strongman threatens NZ

By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media
Fiji's military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama is threatening retaliation against New Zealand after a top Fiji civil servant was denied entry by Wellington. New Zealand has a travel ban on the military appointed government of Fiji and its civil servants.
Commodore Bainimarama, who has appointed himself prime minister, revealed today that his department CEO, Parmesh Chand, had been denied travel to New Zealand. He was to have gone to New Zealand to holiday with his family. "My government announces that should Australia and New Zealand continue to ignore and frustrate this administration, Fiji will consider retaliatory measures," the commodore said in a statement.

Muslims get pool in Chch

Muslims or any group wanting exclusive access to a swimming pool will be able to hire one at QE II Park.
Last week, Christchurch Muslims said they needed a pool in which women of their religion could swim without a headscarf or burqa. Christchurch City Council spokesman John Filsell says the council realises that it needs to provide a safe environment where various sectors of the community can swim. He says people who are conscious of their bodies for health or modesty reasons may want privacy when exercising. A 25-metre pool which can be curtained off for privacy will be made available at QE II Park and can be booked for exclusive use.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Sheikh, rockstar rumoured mystery guests for Taupo grand prix

By Bernard Orsman and Simon O'Rourke
Speculation suggests an Arab sheikh or rockstar Eric Clapton may have booked up a luxury lodge near Taupo to coincide with this weekend's A1 motorsport GP. The mystery party has hired Solitaire Lodge for four nights at a cost of up to $13,000 a night.
Contractors at Taupo's A1GP have speculated that the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah, has booked the venue. The King is a motorsport fan and was instrumental in bringing the V8 Supercar race to his country last year. Another suggestion is that guitar legend Eric Clapton is in town for the motorsport, relaxing before his concert at Mission Estate in Napier next weekend. Last night a spokesman for Solitaire Lodge said: "We can confirm that one party has booked the entire lodge for the duration of the racing."

Radio NZ's birdcall to be clearer and more frequent

Radio New Zealand's iconic birdcall is far from extinct with the station revealing plans today for "more birds". As part of new corporate branding, listeners to the public service broadcaster will hear the bird calls more often, with better quality recordings and a spoken context for the birdsongs, according to a news release from Radio New Zealand. The bird call, which currently heralds the hourly news bulletins during Morning Report on weekday mornings, has been used on RNZ's National Programme since 1974.
NZHERALD STAFF

Comet mistaken for plane in fiery plunge

By James Ihaka
The Fire Service and police around the country received calls last night from people mistaking Comet McNaught for an object falling from the sky. "One person in Welcome Bay called and said they saw something falling from the sky and another near Waiuku said they thought a plane was on fire," said Fire Service communications centre spokeswoman Leah Denton. The comet, which was named after Australian astronomer Robert McNaught who discovered it last year, is expected to be visible at twilight for the next three weeks. It is 124 million kilometres from Earth and is now moving away from the sun. Astronomers say it can be spotted in the southwestern sky shortly after sunset.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Men-only teacher training proposed

By ARWEN HANN - The Press
A prestigious Nelson boys' school desperate to employ male teachers could avoid discrimination rules and start a men-only training facility, says the Human Rights Commission. Nelson College principal Gary O'Shea is so worried about the shortage of male teachers he has suggested starting an in-school teacher-training facility to encourage more men into the profession. The college would take a small number of graduates for a one-year training course with a view to employing them at Nelson College once they qualified. A spokesman said there were provisions in the Human Rights Act and the New Zealand Bill of Rights for affirmative action to redress the balance for disadvantaged groups.

Signed Hillary stamps available for lucky few

A few lucky New Zealanders will have the chance to own stamp memorabilia signed by Sir Edmund Hillary as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Scott Base, Antarctica. New Zealand Post said today it would issue 100 commemorative first day cover envelopes – collectable stamp products – signed by Sir Edmund. Each cover envelope will be officially certified as mail posted from Scott Base on January 20, 2007. Sir Edmund was the original post master of Scott Base when it was officially established in January 20, 1957. He is there again, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the base along with Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Source:NZPA

Maori King Travelling To Japan

The Maori King, Te Arikinui Tuheitia, will travel to Japan tomorrow for his first official overseas engagement.
King Tuheitia will take part in the official opening of a Te Papa exhibition of Maori taonga, or treasures, and will meet with the Japanese Emperor and his wife. The Emperor was previously a guest of the late Dame Te Atairangikaahu at Turangawaewae Marae. King Tuheitia will return from Japan next week to take part in the annual Ratana Church celebrations.
© NewsRoom 2007

Peters recovering in hospital after knee surgery

Winston Peters is the latest victim of the radiographers' strike. The foreign minister has undergone knee surgery in an Auckland hospital for an old rugby injury. The operation took place yesterday morning. A spokesman says the procedure was originally scheduled for last year, however it was delayed by industrial action which hit the health sector. Winston Peters is expected to be in hospital for another five days at least.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NSW Premier applauds investigation into cleric

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has urged whatever action is necessary against controversial Sydney cleric Sheik Feiz Mohammed, including criminal charges or a ban from living in Australia. The Australian-born leader of the Global Islamic Youth Centre has sparked outrage with a DVD urging young Muslims to become holy warriors, and calling Jewish people pigs. The Australian Federal Police are investigating whether the comments constitute a breach of sedition laws by inciting racial hatred or acts of terror. Mr Iemma has welcomed the police probe, saying he is "offended and outraged" by the sheik's comments.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ "5th most economically free"

New Zealand is the fifth most economically free country in the world. The 2007 Economic Freedom report is out. It is compiled annually and measures 161 countries against 50 independent variables, like business freedom, trade freedom, and freedom from government intervention. New Zealand is ranked fifth, behind Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and the United States. Disappointingly for New Zealand, it is the first time in many years that Australia has outranked it.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Air NZ slashes cost of flying

Air New Zealand is slashing the cost of domestic air travel. From January 24, its fares will fall by up to 26 percent. The cheapest one-way fares between Auckland and Wellington will drop from $115 to $89. A fare between Christchurch and Wellington which previously cost $93 will now cost $79.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ spacecraft cemetery gets another skip from orbit

A "spaceship cemetery" off the coast of New Zealand has acquired its latest remains – a Russian Progress M-57 launch vehicle carrying rubbish from the International Space Station. The spaceship sank in the Pacific Ocean 3900km southeast of Wellington – a site regularly used by the Russian mission control for supply flights to the orbital station, Novosti newsagency reported. "The ship was undocked from the ISS in normal mode," said a spokesman for mission control, who noted that the parts which failed to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere sank in the Pacific Ocean at about 4.15pm (NZT) yesterday. The spaceship cemetery is an area where many spacecraft, including the defunct Mir station, have been sunk.
Source:NZPA

Maori Party fears Kohanga will miss out

The Maori Party cannot believe a Government-approved programme may miss out on the 20 hours free childhood education promise. The Government's election promise for all three and four-year-olds is coming under scrutiny with many centres concerned they will not be able to cope. Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the programme states only Kohanga Reo with registered teachers apply. Dr Sharples says a high percentage of children attending Kohanga Reo come from low income families who undoubtedly need the entitlement. He says Kohanga Reo is being treated like the poor cousin.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Taxi safety officers sought

Officials have begun implementing measures designed to make it safer to get into a taxi. Land Transport New Zealand will begin recruiting this weekend for 10 full time enforcement officers who will solely be dedicated to the taxi industry. They will be used to improve standards within the industry and also to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
The 10 will be based in Auckland and Wellington - but will work around the country.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Amphibious boats off to Italy

Six New Zealand designed and made amphibious boats are making their way to Italy to be used in flood rescues. Sealegs International has secured its first industrial order, which will bring in about $500,000 in revenue. CEO David McKee Wright says the Italian Fire Department put the order in after seeing Sealegs at an international boat show. He says the Fire Department realised the boats could be helpful in civil defence emergencies.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Death of kiwi chicks upsets ranger

DOC says the deaths of two kiwi chicks in Te Urewera National Park shows how hard the birds are to protect. The deaths came within days of each other and DOC staff believe they are the result of a stoat attack. Ranger Greg Moorcroft says it was "gutting" to find them dead. He says it shows even with the number of traps set down for stoat control, it is hard to protect New Zealand's national icon. Mr Moorcroft says unlike other birds, kiwi chicks are left to fend for themselves and in unprotected areas. He says most are killed by stoats and cats, while dogs are a major threat to adult kiwi.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Avocados await record harvest

The avocado industry is looking forward to its best season ever, with fruit volumes expected to exceed the record harvest of 2005. Avocado Growers Association chairman Hugh Moore says this year's harvest should help offset the losses from a disastrous 2006 season. He says they would like to make inroads in both the American and Japan markets, especially after cold snaps ravaged the industry in California.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Roof-Collected Rainwater Contamination High

A Massey University study shows 30 percent of roof-collected rain water systems are contaminated. More than 400,000 New Zealanders depend on roof-collected water, especially in rural and semi-rural areas. One of the researchers, Stan Abbott, says more than half of the 560 samples collected failed to meet minimum standards for drinking water. He says simple measures, such as filters, should be mandatory as they can drastically improve water quality.
© NewsRoom 2007

Buskers' Festival gets underway tonight

They say laughter is good for your health so Christchurch residents should be fitter than fiddles by the end of the World Buskers' Festival. A series of comedy events tonight mark the start of the festival and street performances get under way tomorrow. Organiser Jodi Wright says large crowds are expected to turn out. Twenty-five of the 40 acts are international. Buskers will perform at a number of venues including Cathedral Square, the Arts Centre, City Mall and the Peacock Fountain in the gardens. Schedules and venues can be found on www.worldbuskersfestival.com
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Thousands of kiwis apply to test condoms

More than 3000 New Zealanders think they have got the right stuff to be a condom tester. Durex has aroused plenty of interest since it began looking for suitable applicants to test its newest non-latex condom in December.
Spokeswoman Victoria Potter said today it had received more than 3000 applicants – men and women. Durex decided to test the product in New Zealand after its sex surveys had shown New Zealanders were an amorous bunch who were sexually adventurous in the bedroom, she said. "The overwhelming response to date from Kiwis has certainly proven this." One hundred people would be selected randomly to test the condoms at the end of the month. The condom, which was the world's first polyisoprene condom, should be suitable for people who had allergies to latex, Ms Potter said.
Source:NZPA

More bushfire warnings in Victoria (Australia)

Victorian Fire authorities are warning more property could be lost, in what is now being described as the worst bush fire crisis in the state's history. Eight homes were destroyed at Toombullup, in Victoria's North East overnight. A fire near Bennalla also cut power lines, sparking blackouts across the state. Tourists have been asked to leave the resort town of Thredbo after a bush fire from Victoria crossed into the Snowy Mountains. Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says conditions will worsen. He says the fires have now been blazing for 48 days in the state after sparking on December 1st in significant lightning strikes. The Premier expects the next three days will also be very bad. New Zealand fire crews are among those fighting the blazes in Victoria.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Boating deaths lowest on record

The boating death toll for 2006 was the lowest on record. New statistics released by Maritime New Zealand show 16 people died on the sea last year. Nine were in the commercial sector and seven were in the recreational sector.
Maritime New Zealand Director Catherine Taylor says it is extremely satisfying to see such a significant reduction in the boating toll. She says it is a credit to all the maritime safety organisations.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Chch solar car to race in Australia

Beach goers are not the only ones welcoming the return of the sun this week. A little bit of sunshine means that three determined Christchurch engineers will be able to test run a prototype of their new brainchild. Their solar car is capable of more than 120kph on the open road and is a contender for this year's 3000-km world solar challenge from Darwin to Adelaide.
Source:One News

Kitten stops traffic

There has been a lucky escape for a kitten on a busy Auckland road. Police cordoned off Hugh Watt Drive in Mangere today after receiving calls from motorists who had spotted a kitten in the middle of the road. Two officers on motorbikes were sent to the feline's rescue. The Police Northern Communications dispatcher who took the call decided they wanted the pet. One of the officers put the kitten inside his uniform jacket and delivered it to its new owner. The kitten's new name is 'lucky'.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Chips and chocolate cheaper

Food prices dropped 0.5 percent last month. Falling prices in the grocery food, fruit and vegetable sectors are believed to be the main drivers behind the decrease. The most significant contributors were potato chips and chocolate which were down 6.1 percent and 3.5 percent. In the vegetable sector tomatoes and cabbage prices showed a substantial drop, but that was offset by a rise in apple prices. Petrol has made a significant inroad into the Consumers Price Index, with lower fuel prices forcing it down by 0.2 percent.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Special centre for sick native animals

Auckland Zoo is on track to get a new conservation medicine centre after a charitable trust raised around $4.5 million. The centre will treat sick native animals and incorporate a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital. It will focus strongly on research, diagnostic work and specialised teaching. Penny Whiting from the Zoo Trust says staff will make a substantial contribution to wildlife conservation in New Zealand and around the world. Kiwi, Blue Ducks and Kakapo are likely to benefit from the centre.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

More species are threatened

An updated list of endangered species released by the Department of Conservation shows an increase in the number of endangered birds and animals. There has been an increase of threatened species and the list now stands at 2,788 which is up by 416 compared to the last list which was produced in 2002. DOC says while it's pleased with efforts to save at-risk species there are some surprising failures and New Zealand is a land of disappearing flora and fauna. It is hoped that the newly updated list released on Tuesday will help protect over 5,800 plants and animals currently under threat.
New Zealand and Madagascar, both isolated islands, are now the only entire countries labelled environmental hot spots by conservationists.
click HERE for full story

Waka (canoe) paddlers ready for Karapiro contest

By ESTHER HARWARD - Waikato Times
Waka lined the shores of Lake Karapiro yesterday in preparation for today's start to the 2007 Waka Ama Championships. Paddlers took to the water for training yesterday in scorching heat. Nearly 2350 paddlers aged seven to 67 will compete until Saturday, using hoe (paddles) in single, six-person or 12-person waka. Organiser Maggie Greening said a ninth lane had been added this year after record registrations. The Waikato region has the second largest number of entrants, ahead of the East Coast and behind Auckland. The national competition follows last year's World Sprints Championships held at the lake in March.

Air NZ 'trying to cut pay by $15,000'

One of the unions representing ground service workers for Air New Zealand says a proposal by the airline to outsource services is just a thinly veiled attempt to cut $15,000 from the pay of an average worker. The airline and Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) representatives are into day two of discussions about the future of about 1700 staff after an announcement from the airline last year that it planned to outsource the work they do. "The stakes are high. The cuts that Air NZ demands are not small. They are asking for a $15,000 drop in take-home pay for the average fulltime equivalent staff member."
Source:NZPA

Comet seen in NZ skies may be brightest in centuries

New Zealanders should be able to see the brightest comet in 40 years – and possibly in the past century – in the southwest evening sky for the next couple of weeks, astronomers say. "Look towards the south western sky, low down towards the horizon soon after sunset," Carter Observatory senior astronomer Brian Carter said yesterday. "You will have no trouble in finding it over the next few days." Known as Comet McNaught, it was only spotted for the first time last August by Australian professional astronomer Robert McNaught, when it was just a faint fuzzy blob. Mr Carter said the comet had brightened up more than anyone expected as the icy lump orbited the sun, ice and dust coming off its surface reflecting sunlight. "McNaught is now the brightest comet in more than 40 years. . .and it may become the brightest in centuries," Mr Carter said.
Source:NZPA

South Island kokako (bird) declared extinct

By KENT ATKINSON - NZPA
Conservation officials today formally declared the South Island kokako extinct, saying there had been no confirmed sightings for 40 years. Rod Hitchmough, a scientific officer at the Department of Conservation (DOC) told a press briefing in Wellington that the kokako decision had attracted controversy. "But the definition of extinct is that we are absolutely certain the last individual has died," said Mr Hitchmough, who compiled DOC's latest lists of threatened species, including six native insects and snails also declared extinct. "It was last seen on the South Island in 1967," he said. There had been further reports on Stewart Island in 1987 and other more recent sightings, but these had not been corroborated.

Museum project head resigns

The director of the Tauranga Museum project has resigned after only six months in the job. Mark Clayton was originally recruited from Australia to fill the post and cites personal reasons for his resignation. Tauranga City Council will re-advertise the job later this month. The $21 million museum project has been the focus of controversy for several years. A survey of ratepayers prior to Christmas failed to produce a clear majority for or against the museum, and most respondents do not want their rates used to pay for the project.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Charities get a clean up

A new era of transparency and accountability for charities begins next month. The Charities Register opens on February 1st. Groups wanting to maintain their tax exemptions need to register before the laws change in July 2008. Charities Commission chief executive Trevor Garrett says at the moment the industry is all over the place, and no-one even knows how many charitable organisations are out there. He says the register will also allow people to know which charities are real.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Tourism industry gets summer boom

New Zealand's growing reputation as a hot holiday destination is seen as the reason our tourism industry is breaking records. The Christmas-New Year period has been one of the most successful on record, with places like Northland, Gisborne and the West Coast doing particularly well. Tourism Industry Association Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says word of mouth is working to bring people to New Zealand. She says the people working in the tourism industry are getting better and better at providing services and people are having a wonderful time here, despite the weather.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ pledges $200k to fight terror

The Government is putting $200,000 towards moves against terrorism in the Pacific. The money will go towards United Nations counter-terrorism legislation. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says with New Zealand's help, the UN Terrorism Prevention Branch will be able to help Pacific states draft the laws needed to fight global terrorism. He says this will impact on their own security and indirectly, on our security.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Virus-hit ward open again

One of the Tauranga Hospital wards hit by a gastroenteritis outbreak this week has been reopened. Ward seven has returned to full open status after being free of any sign of the virus for 48-hours. Wards nine and ten, which cater to elderly patients, are still closed. Anyone presenting with the bug is being isolated in a side room. In all, 35 patients and 20 staff showed signs of having the tummy bug.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

National Says It’s Too Easy For Poachers

The National Party says the Ministry of Fisheries is making it too easy for poachers to ravage fish and shellfish stocks. It says the number of Honorary Fisheries Officers on patrol has been slashed by 35 percent since 2002. Its fisheries spokesperson, Phil Heatley, says poaching is a serious problem in New Zealand particularly with high-value fish stocks like crayfish and paua.
© NewsRoom 2006

Ultimatum for Aussie petrol companies

Oil companies in Australia been given one week to drop the price of petrol. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says drivers are paying too much for fuel after the drop in world oil prices. The ACCC says it is expecting cuts over the next few days or it will demand answers. Despite the fact US crude has been falling steadily in recent months, the price of petrol has remained around $A1.20.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Asian Leaders Plan Free-Trade Area From India to N.Z.

Asia's largest economies will start planning a free-trade zone that would rival the U.S. and the European Union, after overcoming China's reluctance to include India and Australia. Leaders of 16 nations endorsed the plan for a trade zone stretching from India to New Zealand in a meeting in Cebu, according to Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo. Japan, the region's largest economy, will fund a study into the proposal, he said. Almost half of the world's population lives in the proposed free-trade area, which has a combined economic output of $9 trillion. The proposal should ultimately lead to lower tariffs and increased trade, and marks the first time that Asian nations have agreed on the need for a strategy of economic integration similar to the one that led to the creation of the European Union. Both the Australian and New Zealand dollar rose on the news.

Taranaki woman wins battle to adopt Romanian boy

A Taranaki woman has won her long battle to adopt a Romanian boy, with documents finally stamped "irrevocable and definitive". Iani Linguar, 8, has been in the care of New Plymouth nurse Alana Cleland for about five years, but in March last year she was forced to return him to Romania. The pair have since remained there, fighting for Ms Cleland's custody arrangement to be upgraded to adoption. The Taranaki Daily News reported that Miss Cleland said from Romania last night the adoption papers had finally came through at the weekend. She said she and Iani were both very excited. The next step is to apply for Iani's birth certificate and new Romanian passport. It should be a simple process, Ms Cleland said. "Within two weeks we should be in London." There Miss Cleland will apply for New Zealand citizenship for Iani, which could take several months.
NZPA

Beatles stamps will be available online in NZ

Several hundred sets of the Beatles stamps that were popular when released in Britain recently will soon be available online in New Zealand. New Zealand Post's stamps general manager Ivor Masters said the company had secured an initial supply of the stamps, which include the covers of Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Let it Be.
Source:NZPA

Push For Fire Service Volunteers

The Fire Service wants employers to help recruit more volunteer firefighters. Bay of Plenty-Waikato Fire Commander Owen Kinsella says the service is actively recruiting as many smaller communities are short of volunteer firefighters. Mr Kinsella says by allowing workers to join the Fire Service and releasing them to go out to fire calls during the day, employers would be helping to better the community.
© NewsRoom 2006

Email Spam Targets Westpac Customers

Westpac is warning its customers to look out for a spam email specifically targeting its online customers.
The email asks customers to update their account information. A Westpac spokesperson, Mark Watts, says it appears to be Nigerian in origin, and he advises customers to ignore the email. He says if they have followed the link and logged on to the site to call the bank immediately.
© NewsRoom 2007

Last chance for Big Day Out tickets

The last 2,000 tickets to Auckland's Big Day Out festival go on sale this morning and are expected to be snapped up in a flurry by procrastinating rock lovers. The 12-hour festival is being held at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday and the first 42,000 tickets sold out last Monday, the fastest sales in the festival's history. Organisers put that down to the crop of bands they have lined-up which they describe as "so hot right now". Las Vegas rockers The Killers are among the heavyweights proving to be a major draw cards. Drummer Ronnie Vannucci says he is looking forward to touching down in New Zealand. Other headliners are Muse, Tool and the Violent Femmes. The last tickets go on sale at 9am and are limited to two per person.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Branson quiet on expansion plans

Billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson is not being drawn speculation he on plans to expand Pacific Blue into the domestic market. He is in New Zealand celebrating the airline's third anniversary. There is increased speculation he wants to make the airline a major player but he maintains now is not the right time for the business to expand even though he believes there is demand. He believes there are quite many cities in New Zealand which would want to see Pacific Blue flights and says the airline's only real problem is a lack of planes.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Phone bills rising

Telecom customers can expect to pay more for line rentals from March. Rentals will go up between $1 and $1.85. Telecom spokesman Kevin Bowler says the increase is unavoidable because of cost increases across many areas of the business. The increases will vary for different plans and different parts of the country.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Prized bunnies missing

More than two dozen prized rabbits have been stolen from a Christchurch house. Police say the 26 rabbits were taken from a breeder at Avonhead before the New Year. Some of the animals were rare breeds and it appears the thieves knew exactly which ones they wanted. The bunnies included English angoras, mini lops, Netherland dwarf and cashmere lops. Constable John Groen says the animals were not only a breeder's collection but were treasured family pets. The thieves made off with 19 carry cages and two bags of rabbit pellets.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

PM and Sir Edmund Hillary off to Scott Base

Helen Clark will be swapping the steaming heat of the Philippines this week for the icy cold of Antarctica.
The Prime Minister is today discussing climate change and free trade with 16 other leaders at the second East Asia summit. However, early on Thursday morning, Miss Clark and Sir Edmund Hillary will be flying from Christchurch to the Antarctic to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Scott Base. It was on January the 20th, 1957 that a New Zealand contingent, led by Sir Edmund, established the base as part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

McNaught's comet set to light up the sky

Possibly the brightest comet in a century is currently in our skies. McNaught's comet was only spotted for the first time last August by Australian Astronomer Robert McNaught. Carter Observatory Senior Astronomer Brian Carter says back then it was just a faint fuzzy blob. But he says it has brightened up more than anyone expected. Mr Carter says it is certainly the brightest comet in our skies for the last forty years and will possibly be the brightest in a century. McNaught's comet is five times closer to the sun than the Earth and four times closer than Halley's Comet when it was last seen. Brian Carter says everyone across the country should be able to see the comet in the southwest evening sky for the next couple of weeks.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News