Supercomputer for Canterbury

Research scientists are excited about the prospect of a new arrival at Canterbury University. The supercomputer is one of the smartest in the world and from July will give the university world-class computational ability. "It's the most advanced in the southern hemisphere," says Vice Chancellor Roy Sharp. The university says the $2-$3 million computer will put New Zealand on the research map.
Source:One News

Yes, May has been warm and dry

Official figures are about to confirm what most of us have suspected - May has been warm - in fact the warmest May since records began in the 1850s. It has also been very dry in many parts of the country, with several records almost certain to be broken on the East Coast.
On the mountains round Queenstown there is not so much as a hint of snow and at Coronet Peak they are watching the weather closely with the ski season due to open on Saturday week. Winter officially starts on Friday.
Source:One News

New Zealand Co-Sponsors Resolution To Protect Antarctic Environment

New Zealand and Japan have sponsored a resolution calling for ships operating in the Southern Ocean to have regard for the fragile Antarctic environment. It follows a fire on the Japanese whaling ship, the Nisshin Maru, off the coast of Antarctica in February, and clashes between protestors and Japanese whalers. The resolution was adopted by consensus today at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission in, Alaska.
© NewsRoom 2006

Woman in sex with boy case faces jail

The first woman in New Zealand to be convicted of having sex with an underage boy faces jail for breaching her community service order. Briar Jayne Dravitski, now 24, was given 240 hours' community service in the New Plymouth District Court in January last year for having sex with a 13-year-old boy. Yesterday, her case was reviewed after she breached her community work order three times. She has also been convicted of wilful damage and assault. Judge Allan Roberts reserved his decision, saying he was proposing a jail term of at least 15 months.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

New Zealand Woman Dies After Power Is Cut

A 44-year-old woman who needed an electric oxygen pump to breathe died after an energy company cut the power to her home because of a $122 unpaid bill, her family claimed Wednesday. Police said they had launched an investigation into Folole Muliaga's death, which happened within two hours after state-owned company Mercury Energy cut power to her house Tuesday. Mercury Energy's general manager, James Moulder, said the company was devastated by the woman's death and was conducting its own investigation to determine what happened. Muliaga, a schoolteacher with four children between the ages of 5 and 20, had been off work since February with an illness and had fallen behind in her payments to Mercury, said Brenden Sheehan, a relative who provided a copy of the bill.

Alarming increase in Pacific illegal fishing

By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media
A dramatic increase in the number of sightings of unauthorised fishing vessels in the western and central Pacific Ocean in the last three months is alarming fisheries officials meeting in Wellington this week. The Executive Director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, Andrew Wright, says mainly Latin American fishing boats are operating illegally across the Pacific.
They include areas that New Zealand has responsibility for monitoring, such as the Cook Islands and Kiribati. Speaking during a regional meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency in Wellington he said the majority of reports received concern large purse seiners flagged to Latin American countries.

Primary teachers want $450m for payrise

A primary teachers' union is asking the Government for almost half a billion dollars in order to give teachers a four per cent payrise. The New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) is to lodge a claim for $450 million with the Ministry of Education tomorrow, which would also cover a restructuring of career paths for teachers. NZEI president Irene Cooper said 95 per cent of the union's members had voted in favour of the claim. As well as a payrise, primary school teachers wanted smaller class sizes and more staff, Ms Cooper said.
Source:NZPA

Petition Launched To Get Cigarette Displays Banned

Anti-smoking groups have launched a petition to try to get cigarettes put out of sight in shops. Action on Smoking and Health, the Heart Foundation, and the Cancer Society want all cigarette displays banned and tobacco products kept under the counter. They say the displays only encourage people to smoke more, as well as enticing former smokers back to the habit.
© NewsRoom 2006

Northland Has Untapped Mineral Billions: GNS

A new study has found the Northland region may have valuable untapped mineral resources. The study says $33 billion worth of mineral deposits are potentially present in the region: these comprise $28 billion worth of non-metallic minerals; and $5 billion worth of metallic mineral deposits. Mining currently injects $100 million to the Northland economy per year from mining of china clay, building materials and limestone.
© NewsRoom 2006

Tsunami Evacuation Plan Devised For Christchurch

The police and civil defence in Christchurch have completed a tsunami evacuation plan for the city's coastal suburbs that would see 23,000 people moved out of the area if an alert was issued. The plan has taken 18 months to develop and identifies 19 areas of risk along Christchurch's east coast. The Canterbury District Police operations commander, Inspector Craig McKay, says it would take up to five hours to evacuate everyone from coastal suburbs once an alert is issued.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

National questions biosecurity amid seizure figures

The National Party is questioning the efficiency of New Zealand's biosecurity measures, amid the latest figures about Customs seizures at the border. Almost two tonnes of dairy product, more than one and a half tonnes of seeds, six tonnes of meat and poultry and 11 tonnes of potential fruit fly host material were seized by MAF Biosecurity last year. But the total of 20 tonnes, is lower than the amount recorded in 2005. David Carter, National's agriculture spokesman says steps must be taken to change the behaviour of tourists and returning New Zealanders, as biosecurity breaches could seriously damage export production.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ runner up in peace study

New Zealand is officially the second most peaceful nation in the world, according to the Global Peace Index, launched in London. Norway topped the list of 121 countries, followed by New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland and Japan. Iraq is the least peaceful country on earth. Australia comes in at number 25 and America is 96th. The index considers 24 indicators, including military spending, internal strife and criminal activity. It shows that even among the G8 countries there are significant differences in peacefulness. While Japan is the most peaceful of the G8 countries ranked five in the index, Russia nears the bottom at 118.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Iconic businessman dies

A businessman who beamed into our living rooms via television for years has died in Wellington at the age of 81. Allan Martin, the apparently shy face of LV Martin and Son, spent more than 50 years in the job after taking over from his father Leo Martin at his small music and radio shop. He went on to turn the business into a houseware empire and thriving catalogue company. His mantra "it's the putting right that counts" was taken to extremes when he published his own home phone number saying he would fix any problem day or night. Mr Martin once said when people phoned him at 2am to report a problem with an appliance, he had on occasion phoned back at a similar hour to check the product was fixed. He would justify the move by saying he knew the customer would be up at that hour because they had originally phoned him then. Mr Martin's funeral will be held on Saturday.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Spelling queen in bee finals

A New Zealand teenager is churning through the words in the US. Kate Weir is in Washington DC for the Olympics of spelling, the 80th Scripps National Spelling Bee and has made it to the quarter finals. The 13-year-old Christchurch student is currently among the top 94 of the original 286 contestants. Round four is currently underway.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Cooperation wanted to protect tuna

Pacific nations are being called on to work together to protect tuna fisheries Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton has made the plea at the Pacific Islands Forum fisheries meeting in Wellington this morning. He says if current patterns of over-fishing continue bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks will be destroyed. Mr Anderton says Pacific nations need to work together to protect the fishery or it will collapse.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ Music scene still has plenty of heat

New Zealand Music Month draws to a close today, but there is still plenty to be excited about on the nation's live music scene. The youngest of the Finn dynasty, Neil's son Liam Finn, plays his new solo music at Auckland's Kings Arms tonight after travels though the US and the UK. National favourites Fat Freddy's Drop play two shows in Auckland this weekend, while North Shore youngsters The Checks return from being the buzz of the UK for a show in mid-June, which has already sold out. And Australia's current favourite New Zealand band, Evermore, begin a national all-ages tour late next month.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Rugby-NZ Maori cruise into Churchill Cup final

New Zealand Maori breezed into the final of the Churchill Cup rugby tournament by beating Ireland A 50-22 in Exeter, England, this morning (NZ time). The defending champions will play England Saxons in the Cup decider on Sunday morning (NZ time) at Twickenham. It was the Maoris' second big win of the competition after beating Canada 59-23 last Saturday.
Source:NZPA

Signed airline menu by Beatles up for sale

A special edition airline menu signed by all The Beatles on their 1964 tour to New Zealand is among rare Fab Four memorabilia up for auction. Three Timaru sisters have decided to put the signed Teal menu, a 1964 Teal airline bag, a postcard sent in 1964, and a souvenir tile with sketches of the four Beatles up for sale, with bids to start at $20,000 the Timaru Herald reported today. The trio's grandparents were on a flight sitting next to drummer Ringo Starr during the tour and the memorabilia had stayed in the family until now -- it was too hard to decided who should get to keep it. "My grandparents didn't even know they were going to be on the same plane but they wrote back saying Ringo had sat close by and he had two rings on. They believed he owned a thousand," one sister said. The Trade Me auction ends next Wednesday.
NZPA

Scania wins New Zealand bus order

New Zealand’s largest city bus operator, has ordered 150 of Scania’s latest city bus for delivery during 2007-2009. Scania says it was chosen as supplier because of the vehicles’ environmental technology (Euro 4 and 5 with EGR) and an integrated 3-axle chassis design with high passenger capacity.

PM to lead export mission

Prime Minister Helen Clark will go to Australia next month, leading a business mission to the eastern states of Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard will also be on the trip. The "Export Year" business mission would focus on food and beverage, biotechnology and specialised manufacturing sectors with a separate "sector-focused" business delegation accompanying the prime minister in each state capital.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

New Zealand to invest $1.23B in Philippines

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s state visit to New Zealand has led to the signing of agreements on $1.23 billion worth of investments and funding for the Philippines and on preferential treatment to be accorded to Filipinos seeking jobs in this former British colony. A total of $1 billion has been allotted to reforest mountains particularly in Mindanao, said Heherson Alvarez, a former secretary of environment and natural resources and now presidential adviser on land reform. “It will be a joint venture by Finland and New Zealand through the company Shannolyne,” Alvarez said.

Paul almost left speechless

Dancing with the Stars winner Suzanne Paul paid tribute to her dancing partner after winning one of the closest finals yet. After the judges' marks were tallied last night there was just one point separating her and fellow competitor Megan Alatini and Jonny Williams.
Paul was almost dumbstruck when the announcement was made that she had won. She thanked the voters, her charity Starship Hospital, her partner Stefano Oliveri for teaching her to dance and her husband for believing in her.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ concerned with ongoing intimidation

NEW ZEALAND's acting Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Cullen has voiced his government's concern over the ongoing intimidation in Fiji and wanted to see some real progress in human rights. Mr Cullen was reacting to reports by lawyer Janet Mason, who fled Fiji with her husband late last week after being terrorised by masked men in Lautoka, of the horrific incident they encountered, according to New Zealand's Sunday Star Times. Mr Cullen said until there was some progress in Fiji on human rights and democracy, the New Zealand government would continue with its sanctions against Fiji.
Copyright © 2006, Fiji Times Limited.

Changing face of drivers' licence

Changes will be made to drivers' licences due to the difficulty of checking IDs on the roadside. Police have found the photo is too small and the print difficult to read in poor light, so there will now be larger photos and text. The box which displays whether a licence is a learner or restricted will be enhanced. Limited licences will be printed on pink cards to make them instantly recognisable to police and alert them to the special conditions imposed on the driver. The changes come into effect on July 1. Old licences will still be valid until they expire or are replaced.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Cows in New Zealand produce low-fat milk

New Zealand scientists are breeding a herd of cows that produce lower-fat milk after the chance discovery of a natural gene mutation in one animal. Milk from the cows is also high in health-boosting omega-3 fatty acids and makes butter that spreads as easily as margarine even when chilled, biotechnology company Vialactia said Monday. Scientists discovered a cow, later named Marge by researchers, carrying the mutant gene in a dairy herd they were testing in 2001, Vialactia chief scientist Russell Snell said. Testing revealed that Marge's milk contained about 1 percent fat, compared with about 3.5 percent for whole milk. The company expects the first commercial herd of cows supplying natural low-fat milk and spreadable butter for the market by 2011.

Restrictions wanted on telemarketers

Telemarketers are coming in for political attention with United Future wanting New Zealand to follow Australia's lead. The Howard Government is looking at creating a "do not call" register to stop telemarketers calling those people who do not want their attention. United Future MP Judy Turner is challenging Labour to do the same on this side of the Tasman and is drafting legislation for a register and is challenging the Government to support it.
© 2007 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

How Many Needed To Change 10,000 Lightbulbs?

The sustainability trust is hoping to exchange 10,000 energy efficient light bulbs for standard bulbs in the Porirua suburb of Titahi Bay next month. The programme is funded by the Electricity Commission and a charitable trust, and supported by the local council. Over six weekends in June and July, volunteers aim to go to the nearly 3,000 houses in Titahi Bay and exchange the bulbs. Project manager Lee Barry says the bulbs will cost $2 each, about a third of the normal retail price. She says it is the first project of its kind in New Zealand and hopes it will send a message to the rest of the country.
© NewsRoom 2007

4WDs Confiscated For Shellfish Greed

Two women have been heavily penalised after taking more than 20-times the legal number of shellfish from an Auckland beach. The Ministry of Fisheries says Sinai Fonua, 42, and Losaline Elone, 36, appeared in Manukau District Court last week. The ministry says fisheries officers caught the women and three children with 2,348 cockles at Cockle Beach in February. The limit for each person is 50 shellfish per day. District compliance manager Ian Bright says the women were each fined $1,800 and had their four-wheel-drives confiscated.
© NewsRoom 2007

Police Recruiters Target Under-30s

Police are downplaying fears that an ageing police force will hamper efforts to reach a government target of a thousand extra sworn officers. The government has promised the reinforcements by 2009, following revelations of frontline shortages. The National Party says the police face increasing pressure to replace retiring officers, with the number of sworn police aged over 55 rising from 134 to 311 over the last seven years. Police say while the attrition rate is currently low at 3.8 percent, they are trying to recruit more people under 30.
© NewsRoom 2007

Rugby-All Blacks named

The All Blacks side to play France at Eden Park on Saturday has been named.
All Blacks:
Leon MacDonald, Joe Rokocoko, Isaia Toeava, Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Piri Weepu, Chris Masoe, Richie McCaw (captain), Reuben Thorne, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Troy Flavell, Rodney So'oialo, Brendon Leonard, Nick Evans, Ma'a Nonu.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Smacking bill hurt us, says Clark

By Audrey Young
Prime Minister Helen Clark blames Labour's support for the anti-smacking bill as the main factor behind its dive in the polls and tax cuts to a lesser extent. But she said she would not have done anything differently. She described the slump as "mid-term blues", was confident the party could recover but said she and her Labour colleagues would "look in the mirror" to see how they could improve, including herself. "I can't work harder. Perhaps I could work smarter." Less than two weeks after the enhanced-KiwiSaver Budget, the Herald's DigiPoll survey put National's support 17 percentage points ahead of Labour, and the One News Colmar Brunton poll 25 points ahead. National polled more than 50 per cent in both polls.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Aussies vote Qantas worst airline, prefer Air NZ

Qantas has been voted the worst international airline in an Australian consumer survey. Singapore Airlines was voted top international airline, with Air New Zealand in third place behind Emirates.

Plan for alcohol labels to warn off pregnant women

Moves are under way to introduce labels on alcoholic beverages warning women of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. The Ministry of Health's chief adviser of public health Ashley Bloomfield said the ministry was working towards a change which would make the warnings mandatory on all alcoholic drink containers. The warning labels would give the number of standard drinks inside the container, and the recommended safe drinking level for that beverage. New Zealand alcohol containers already state the number of standard drinks they carry, but there is no requirement to specify a safe level of consumption.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Campaign to clean up abandoned mine

The Environment Minister is visiting Waikato today to announce a campaign to clean up the abandoned Tui Mine in Te Aroha. Piles of waste rock, ore dumps and mine tailings blight the landscape at the foot of the Kaimai Range. Hazardous substances are seeping from mine shafts unused since 1973 – affecting the water quality of streams flowing into the Waihou River. Minister David Benson-Pope says the clean up will significantly improve the area's water quality, eliminate the risk of the dam failing and ensure public safety.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Microsoft software ordered off Macs in NZ schools

Tens of thousands of school pupils may miss out on important software on their school computers after a Microsoft product was ordered removed from Apple Macintosh machines. The Ministry of Education declined to renew a deal for Microsoft Office meaning the software would have to be wiped from 25,000 Macintosh computers in schools, the New Zealand Herald reported today. Education Minister Steve Maharey told the newspaper Microsoft had demanded a licence fee for all Macintosh computers using the software. "The ministry could not justify the extra $2.7 million being given to Microsoft for software that would not be used."
Source:NZPA

NZ may still have 10 billion barrels of oil

By KENT ATKINSON - NZPA
Up to 10 billion barrels of oil could be recovered from future significant discoveries around New Zealand, an expert in oil exploration says. "New Zealand is surrounded by sedimentary basins. . . and the probability of significant oil. . . 10 billion barrels," said David Darby, a "new business" manager for GNS Science. "The deepwater frontiers of New Zealand beckon," he told a media briefing at GNS Science's Wellington head office. "The best potential for New Zealand exploration is in our deepwater basins. "Discoveries in our remote areas – if they are big – will have enormous implications for New Zealand.

Another sporting victory for NZ

It may not be up there with the Rugby World Cup or America's Cup, but New Zealand has scored another sporting victory, of sorts. Jemima Bullock from Wellington has won the ladies section of the annual cheese rolling competition in Gloucestershire, England. The 33-year-old psychologist was one of 3,000 people who chased a three kilogram round of Double Gloucester cheese down a steep slope. Her victory did not come without cost however and she is sporting a bloody knee for her efforts.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Is non-religious state really an issue?

The third meeting of the Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue starts at Waitangi today with some groups unhappy about an expected statement that New Zealand has no state religion, but others saying it is not really an issue. Prime Minister Helen Clark is due to announce that the state will treat all faith communities and those who profess no religion equally before the law. Destiny Church is against the statement, claiming New Zealand should reaffirm itself as a Christian nation. But Auckland University theology lecturer Dr Philip Culbertson says church leader Brian Tamaki may not have as much support for that as he thinks. Dr Culbertson suspects that if it was put to a national vote, most would not be interested in having New Zealand declared a Christian nation. He says many of the country's original settlers actually came to escape religious oppression.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Sportspeople the most trusted

The Readers' Digest's annual survey of the country's most trusted people is dominated by sportspeople. Mt Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary has maintained his spot at the top of the list, followed by children's author Margaret Mahy, athlete Peter Snell, cyclist Sarah Ulmer and and netballer Irene van Dyk. Next in line come triathlete Hamish Carter, discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina, windsurfer Barbara Kendall, broadcaster Judy Bailey and rowers Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, who appear to count as only one person. A father and son combo TradeMe founder Sam Morgan is listed at number 30, 10 spots ahead of his father, philanthropist and economist Gareth Morgan. Of the politicians on the list, Tim Shadbolt is the highest ranked at number 52 with Prime Minister Helen Clark next on 58. Destiny Church founder Brian Tamaki is at the bottom of the list on number 75.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Goff in East Timor for defence talks

Defence meetings in Dili could play a part in deciding the size and duration of New Zealand's commitment to East Timor. Minister of Defence Phil Goff is in the country until Thursday and will be visiting New Zealand Defence Force and police personnel. Mr Goff is also to meet with newly elected president Jose Ramos Horta and senior military and UN officials. It is expected discussions will touch on New Zealand's Defence Force deployment in East Timor and what future commitments may be required.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Farmers band together to fight drought

Hawke's Bay farmers are drawing strength from each other to get through drought affecting the North Island's eastern areas. Nearly 200 farmers packed into the Oruawharo woolshed in Takapau, yesterday for the first in a series of meetings organised by PGG Wrightson Consultancy to help them cope with the situation. Organiser Roy Fraser says everyone seemed grateful for the chance to meet and talk. Mr Fraser says the farmers were given advice on animal welfare, economics and stock and feed management.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Govt gets tough on real estate agents

The Government is clamping down on the real estate industry, proposing an end to self-regulation. The proposal will see an independent complaints system put in place to protect consumers, taking away the power from the industry's own body, the Real Estate Institute (REINZ). Associate Justice Minister Clayton Cosgrove says the move follows concerns raised by the public and real estate agents themselves about how the industry deals with complaints and disciplinary matters. He accuses the industry of adopting "closed shop" practices and says it no longer measures up.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Carvings destroyed in meeting house fire

A heritage building has burnt to the ground at a marae in Mangakino. Early this morning the Tamatea-Pokai-Whenua meeting house on the Pouakani marae was destroyed by fire. Few of the carvings honouring the mythical warrior Tamatea-Pokai-Whenua were spared.
Fire Service Maori advisor Piki Thomas says it is an unfortunate reminder for all marae to manage the risk of fire for ancestral houses. Mr Thomas says this incident is particularly heartbreaking because the marae had irreplaceable carvings and photos which are now lost.
A heritage building has burnt to the ground at a marae in Mangakino.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Philippines PM defends human rights

The visiting president of the Philippines is defending the arrest of an opposition politician as she was quizzed about human rights in her country. Trade Unions and human rights groups are at Parliament, protesting the 16-month detention of Congressman Crispin Beltran on what they claim are trumped up charges of sedition. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says Congressman Beltran's arrest was made under due process and in accordance with jurisprudence. She says his civil and human rights are protected by Philippines law and their administration.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

No relief in sight for Hawke's Bay farmers

NIWA is predicting no immediate relief for drought-stricken Hawke's Bay farmers. Farmers in the eastern North Island have had only 3mm of rain this month, the lowest rainfall in May for 25-years. NIWA Climate Scientist James Renwick says if the weather follows NIWA's predictions, the same conditions will prevail and ten months of dry weather could turn into a decade.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ-born comic legend given honorary doctorate

New Zealand-born comic John Clarke is being honoured with an honorary doctorate by Victoria University in Wellington. Clarke, who is best known in this country for his role as Fred Dagg, has built up a huge following in Australia through other roles. Clarke, who was born in Palmerston North, attended Victoria University before his foray into show business and his move across the Tasman in the mid 1970s. As well as extensive work in the entertainment industry, Clarke has written more than 20 books.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Motorsport: Rain causes early close of Indy 500

Rain brought an early end to the Indy 500 today – America's most famous race skidding to a halt after 166 of the scheduled 200 laps. New Zealand's Scott Dixon had a topsy-turvy ride, starting from the second row and drifting as far back as 9th before rallying after a two-hour rain delay to finish in 2nd place. As storm clouds closed in on the circuit, a multi-car crash left Dixon sweating. Britain's Dario Franchitti took the chequered flag, but Dixon has regained the overall lead from team mate Dan Wheldon after five races.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Fijian military denies silencing critics

The Fijian military is denying claims it is hassling lawyers who are challenging the legality of the country's government. New Zealand lawyer Janet Mason was the victim of a home invasion last week and her husband was beaten around the head with a torch. Mrs Mason has been a key legal adviser to the Great Council of Chiefs which is challenging the legality of Commodore Frank Bainimarama's government.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

GM veges get the go ahead

Genetically modified broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale are to be grown in a controlled environment in Lincoln, near Christchurch. The Environmental Risk Management Authority has approved an application from New Zealand Crop and Food research to field test the vegetables. They will be grown over a ten-year period and modified for resistance to caterpillar pests like cabbage white butterfly and diamond-back moth. ERMA general manager of new organisms Libby Harrison says the field test is subject to strict controls to ensure the GM Brassica remain contained within the field test site and do not enter the food chain.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Kiwi author wins prestigious international award

New Zealand author Lloyd Jones has won a prestigious international award for his novel ‘Mister Pip’. He has captured the Commonwealth Writers' Prize Overall Best Book Award – the first time it has been won by a New Zealander since Janet Frame in 1989. Mister Pip was first published in New Zealand and Australia last year, and will be released in a dozen other countries this year. It will be published in Germany, where Jones will live for 11 months as the recipient of the Creative New Zealand Berlin Writers' Residency.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

New Cancer Treatment Facility To Be Built

A private radiotherapy treatment centre is to be built in Auckland by MercyAscot and Southern Cross Hospitals. MercyAscot spokesperson Richard Fisher says the facility will complement the public system and will give private patients the option of immediate treatment close to home. Cancer patients needing radiotherapy in some parts of New Zealand currently face a long wait and some District Health Boards send patients to Australia for treatment.
It will be New Zealand's first private radiotherapy centre.
© NewsRoom 2007

NZ-based Bangladeshi accused in wife's murder

A Bangladeshi businessman who lives in New Zealand is being accused of orchestrating his wife's murder for life insurance money. Police recovered the woman's body, stuffed inside a barrel, on a road outside the city of Jatrabari in the southeastern area of Dhaka.
The Daily Star in Bangladesh reports police arrested the man's younger brother, who confessed to hiring a hit man. The hit man has apparently also confessed to the drugging and strangulation of the 26-year-old woman. The woman's husband, who allegedly ordered the killing, is believed to still be in New Zealand.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Polls smack Labour

Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill, Taito Phillip Field and a budget that failed to fire are believed to be the main factors driving down Labour in the latest political opinion polls. In Saturday's Herald-DigiPoll, 50.9 percent of decided voters support National. That figure would give National 64 out of 122 seats and allow the party to govern alone. Labour is more than 17 points behind on 33.6 percent. National's leader John Key has 45.5 percent support as preferred prime minister. Helen Clark has 42.1 percent. Last night's One News/Colmar-Brunton survey gave National 56 percent support and Labour 31 percent. Newstalk ZB's political editor Barry Soper says Labour's support of the anti-smacking bill alienated many voters. He says despite the Government's best attempts to wash its hands of Taito Phillip Field, the now-independent MP is still causing problems, as police apply to the High Court to lay 14 charges of bribery against him. Mr Soper says Labour will be upset the budget, which revealed details of the KiwiSaver scheme, did not help the party claw back some support.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Warm May but skifield suffering

Just three weeks out from the opening of Mt Ruapehu's ski season, operators are looking at bare slopes. Staff at the mountain are hoping for southerlies to bring cold weather to kick start a snow base. By this time last year, snow had already closed the Desert Road on State Highway 1. Alan Porteous, a climatologist with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says most parts of New Zealand are more than a degree warmer than average this month. He says if the warm weather continues, May will be on track to be the warmest in 20 years.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Charts reflecting digital sales

Digital music sales will be included in new music charts following the acceleration in legal downloads. Up until now the Recording Industry Association gathered weekly chart data from radio airplay and disc sales. However, more than 40,000 tracks are now being downloaded in New Zealand each week from online stores such as digiRAMA, Amplifier, RipIt and iTunes, as well as via mobile phones from Vodafone and Telecom networks. Recording Industry Association president Adam Holt says kids are buying music a lot faster on phones and online and the music charts need to reflect this development.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Philippine president to visit New Zealand, Australia

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will leave on Sunday afternoon for a four-day visit to New Zealand and Australia to further expand trade, increase security cooperation and foster closer cultural relations between the Philippines and those two countries. President Arroyo will discuss with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark "a range of issues, including Interfaith Dialogue," a vital component of the peace process in Mindanao, Philippine News Agency reported on Saturday. President Arroyo will be in New Zealand from May 28 to 30, during which she will also meet with the Filipino community there.
Source: Xinhua

Folate of no benefit

New Zealand is on the brink of forcing food manufacturers to add folate to their products to curb spinal defects in babies. But new research out today from the United States shows adding extra folate does absolutely nothing. American manufacturers have been adding the vitamin to grains and flour for more than 10 years, and still woman are not getting enough vitamin B. These new findings have thrown a blanket of fear over plans in New Zealand and Australia to introduce the vitamin as an additive in the form of folate in bread. Green Party health spokeswoman Sue Kedgley says the research has come at just the right time: Ministers plan to make a final decision on the move next month
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ Sevens side unbeaten

The New Zealand Sevens team have gone through pool play unbeaten at the latest IRB World Series tournament in London. They have beaten Kenya, Italy and Scotland comprehensively on day one to top Pool C. Gordon Tietjens' side began the day well with a 43-10 win over Kenya before thrashing Italy 48-nil and Scotland 43-7. The other serious contenders for victory at the tournament have all had relatively trouble free starts, although Fiji were held to a 19-all draw by Argentina.
© 2007 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Transplant girl dies after eating mushrooms

By Michelle Coursey
A university student who died after eating magic mushrooms received a heart transplant 10 years ago. Family and friends of Te Awhina Hawera, 23, gathered at a marae in Tuakau yesterday to celebrate the extra years the life-saving operation had given. "She had lots of friends - from schools, from clubs, all the things she was involved with," said her uncle, Jason Hawera.

Marchers defend whales

An anti-whaling march is planned for 2pm today, assembling in Auckland's Aotea Square then moving north down Queen Street towards Viaduct Harbour. The march comes a day ahead of the International Whaling Commission meeting in Alaska where the future of whaling will be decided. Japan wants to resume commercial whaling, banned since 1986. Last year the Japanese delegation nearly succeeded in having the ban lifted.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Piste off - balmy May weather just too warm for skiers

By GREG MEYLAN - Sunday Star Times
The balmy May weather might be a tonic for some but it is threatening to delay the start of the ski season. Most fields are due to open in early June, but say they have only a thin or non-existent snow base. "Traditionally we have opened in the first or second week of June but this may be a different year for us, though things can change very quickly," said Dave Wilson, ski area manager at Mt Hutt. Mt Hutt hoped to open on June 9 but the little snow that fell earlier this month has mostly gone and it is still too warm for the snow-making machines to start work. Forecasts for the next fortnight show little sign of substantial snowfalls. At Coronet Peak and the Remarkables skifields, snowmakers are on standby for the temperature to fall low enough to start the snow-making machines and both fields still hope to meet their respective start dates of June 9 and 23. The North Island skifields on Mt Ruapehu are also without a snow base and are hoping for southerlies to bring cold weather.

Schools ban bebo site

By LOIS WATSON - Sunday Star Times
More than 2000 schools across the country have taken steps to limit student access to the web as concern grows over social networking sites like bebo.com. Education ministry figures show at least 2300 schools have had filtering software installed to prevent students accessing sites deemed by the school as inappropriate. But they are powerless to stop children accessing the sites from their home computers and are urging parents to take a tougher stance on internet use. The bans come after growing concern about social networking sites like YouTube, My Space and bebo, some of which have featured fights in New Zealand playgrounds or photos of students in provocative poses.

Warning over cancer jab used by Aussies

By GREG MEYLAN - Sunday Star Times
Questions are being raised about the need for New Zealand to follow Australia and introduce a cervical cancer vaccine for all 12 and 13-year-old girls. The vaccine, Gardasil, immunises against the two main strains of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) - responsible for 70 per cent of cervical cancers. About 66 women die from cervical cancer every year in New Zealand and there was a high expectation the government would fund a universal programme of Gardasil in the Budget. Instead it favoured a vaccine against childhood pneumococcal disease. And that is a good thing, says Auckland Women's Health Council co-ordinator Lynda Williams. Her comments follow an opinion piece in respected scientific journal Nature that questioned whether the vaccine was as wonderful as portrayed in media reports. But clinical trials have shown the vaccine to be 100 per cent effective at protecting women not yet infected against the two most common strains of HPV.

Fiji thugs terrorise Kiwi lawyer

By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media
Masked men have invaded the Fiji home of a Wellington lawyer, leaving it "like a murder scene" with blood everywhere. Janet Mason, who is seven months pregnant, has been heavily involved in challenging Fiji's military rule. Last night the military detained one of her legal partners. In the home invasion, early on Wednesday morning, Ms Mason's husband was hit with a heavy torch and had to be stitched up without anaesthetic. Her laptop computer was taken, though legal files sitting next to it were untouched. Ms Mason, a public and constitutional law expert with her own practice, Pacific Law, has been a key legal adviser to the Great Council of Chiefs, which is challenging the legality of Fiji's military government. She was bunkered down with her family in Lautoka last night after her legal partner, Kitione Vuataki, was seized.

Severe weather for The South

A severe weather warning has been issued for Otago and Southland. MetService is forecasting severe gales for coastal areas from Invercargill to Dunedin as a cold front moves across southern New Zealand tonight. The gales are expected to spread to coastal Otago as far north as the Otago Peninsula overnight. The winds will likely be strong enough to damage trees and lift any objects not held firmly in place. Drivers are advised to take care, especially those travelling in high-sided vehicles.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Rugby: Makeshift French tour 'madness'

By Wynne Gray
A makeshift French side will train together for the first time next week in Auckland, just days before they meet an All Black side charged with reclaiming their reputation on the first step of their World Cup odyssey. People from All Black coach Graham Henry to French utility Thomas Castaignede have talked up the touring team's qualities when the reality is the French will be sorting out their final squad as the All Blacks go into camp in Auckland. "It is madness. They will arrive with jetlag, have a few training sessions while people are still being introduced to each other and then have to play the best team in the world," said Henri Bru, senior rugby writer for L'Equipe. "France will have a scratch team, it will be a very, very strange tour and I cannot understand why the IRB is sanctioning the visit. "There is absolutely no interest in the tour here. All the focus in France is on our club championship, with the semifinals and the final on the same days as the two tests in New Zealand."

Russian niece allowed into NZ after battle

A Christchurch woman is planning a family reunion after being told she will be allowed to bring her orphaned niece from Moldova to New Zealand. Cornelia Didenco, a Christchurch Symphony violinist, adopted her niece Ana Maria after the 12-year-old's mother died of cancer in September last year. However, she was unable to bring Ana Maria from the former Soviet Republic to live with her family in Christchurch because of international red tape. The Moldovan court which allowed the Didencos to adopt Ana Maria had not filed the appropriate paperwork allowing her to come to New Zealand. The impasse was broken this week when Associate Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove sent Cornelia Didenco a letter granting Ana Maria a student visa. The Didencos adopted Ana Maria in Moldova almost immediately after her mother died. However, New Zealand authorities did not consider the adoption legal because the paperwork authorising Ana Maria's removal from Moldova had not been signed. Didenco said her family and Christchurch's Orthodox Catholic church, where her husband is a priest, would throw a party for Ana Maria when she arrived.
Source:The Press

UPDATE:Missing tourist found in Abel Tasman National Park

An American tramper lost overnight in Abel Tasman National Park has been found safe and well. Up to 40 searchers hunted for Mr Bock and police said he was today found "healthy and unhurt" about 2km from where he had been staying at Awaroa Lodge.
Source:NZPA

Oil price rise predicted

An oil analyst believes competition and the strong New Zealand dollar may help to keep a lid on rising oil prices. There is speculation the price of crude could reach $US80 a barrel due to rising tensions in the Middle East and Nigeria, more demand from America and OPEC constraints on supply. However, locally, BP and Shell have dropped their prices by five cents a litre in another battle for supremacy at the pump.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

American disappears during short walk

An American man is missing in Abel Tasman Park after setting off on a short walk. Fifty-two-year-old Ken Bock has not been seen since he left Awaroa Lodge yesterday morning, to catch a water taxi at the end of a bush track. Senior Constable Crispin Lee says one thing in Mr Bock's favour is that the weather is not too bad, however he was travelling light with only a small backpack with insect repellent and sunscreen in it. Seven searchers have spent the night in the park looking for him.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

National leaps in latest poll

The latest political poll puts National so far in front of Labour it could govern the country alone. The New Zealand Herald Digipoll picks a landslide win for National, if an election were held tomorrow. The poll was taken in the week after the budget and shows 50.9 percent of voters who have made up their minds would vote National. Labour is more than 17 points behind, on 33.6 percent. Translated into votes, this would allow National to govern on its own, with 64 seats out of 122.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Waikato River ownership sorted

There has been a breakthrough in talks between the Crown and Maori over the future of the Waikato River. A claim over ownership of the river was left out of the $170 million Tainui settlement when it was signed in 1995, but it was earmarked to be addressed at a later date. The ownership issue remains politically sensitive, with locals fiercely opposed to Maori being declared owners of the water. However a compromise has now been reached which is believed to allow for joint management of the river between Maori and the Crown. A formal announcement is being made in Hamilton this afternoon. The Treaty of Waitangi claim spans from Karapiro Village north to Port Waikato.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Youth march against liquor outlets

A march is underway in the South Auckland community of Clendon, against the number of liquor outlets in the area. Locals are concerned there are too many places to buy alcohol and protest coordinator Waina Emery says local youth decided to take a stand. She says they want the laws concerning the opening of liquor outlets tightened, as at the moment off-licences seem to be as common as corner dairies.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ deforestation 'a disaster'

The latest report highlighting deforestation in New Zealand is being described as an environmental disaster. Figures released by MAF show a record 13 thousand hectares of trees were chopped down last year. The National Party's Climate Change spokesman Nick Smith says the figures make a complete joke of the Government's carbon neutrality rhetoric. He says in the last year, New Zealand lost about three million trees, adding 800,000 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. He is calling it a chainsaw massacre.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Peters meets Chinese premier

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has described a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing as productive and informative. "We discussed ways of expanding and strengthening New Zealand and China's relationship as our two countries mark 35 years of diplomatic relations," Mr Peters said after the meeting on Friday. "We also talked in detail about recent developments in the Pacific, which built on our discussions in New Zealand last April, and the Premier's talks with the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, at the East Asia Summit earlier this year."
Mr Peters said China wanted to work closely with New Zealand in the Pacific.
Source:NZPA

Solar water heating grants a reality

The Government has launched an initiative which will see householders able to claim $500 towards installing solar water heating technology. Government energy efficiency spokeswoman Jeanette Fitzsimons says hot water can account for around $800 of an annual domestic energy bill and a solar heating system can cut this cost by up to 75 percent. She says it is good news for householders, their power bills and climate change.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ colleges struggle to find principals

By LANE NICHOLS - The Dominion Post
A worsening shortage of applicants for college principal jobs is forcing the appointment of unsuitable candidates, education leaders say. Both the Secondary Principals' and School Trustees associations say the problem has come to a head in the past year, with some vacancies attracting just a handful of applicants. That means boards have fewer options when appointing senior teachers to the "critical" chief executive role in schools. Job pressures, growing responsibilities and inadequate pay are thought to have contributed to the lack of interest. Research by the Council for Educational Research found just 8 per cent of teachers were considering becoming principals, while 83 per cent had no interest.

NZ has lots of hackers - report

There are more computer hackers per head of population in New Zealand than anywhere else apart from Britain, a new report on "cybervandalism" across 10 countries has found. New Zealand rated one hack for every 638 users, network security group TippingPoint, which conducted the survey, discovered. The United Kingdom attracted the highest attack ratio, with one attack for every 479 internet users. Australia was third on the list of 10 countries with one attack per 732 users. The documented attacks were typically only surface-level intrusions, but such breaches were often a pre-cursor to more insidious penetrations of networks, Ken Low from TippingPoint said. The other seven countries included in the report were Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, India and Japan.
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

Off to Oz: 600 Kiwis leave a week

By DAN EATON - The Press
More New Zealanders are leaving the country – mostly to Australia – and fewer are returning, according to a new Government report. The Department of Labour's report on permanent and long-term migration issued yesterday showed the number moving to Australia has reached 615 a week, compared to 578 on average last year. It said the trend over the last four months had resulted in the first drop in migration inflows since October 2005. The number of New Zealanders heading for Australia rose to 32,200 in the year to March, from 30,100 a year earlier. Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said there was no cause for real concern and Kiwis were being replaced with immigrants from other countries. "As with all such statistics they bounce up and down," he said. "It is pleasing that there is still a positive net inflow of migrants and that New Zealand continues to make gains on the global brain exchange, where we compete with many other countries.

Alleged poacher appearing in court

A Christchurch man will appear in the Kaikoura District Court today charged with possessing paua (abalone) and rock lobster to sell. The diver was caught in March with 50 times more paua than the legal limit. Ministry of Fisheries spokesman Geoff Clark alleges the man had 500 paua when the limit is 10 and 36 rock lobster when the limit is six. The man faces a maximum fine of $250,000.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Bad night for one possum

More than 9,000 customers throughout Wairarapa were plunged into darkness by a massive power cut last night. The problem was caused by a possum climbing a tree and touching power lines on Ngaumutawa Rd in Masterton, shorting the mains. A local woman says it was not a good night for the possum, which caused a huge blue glow in the sky as electricity arced through the air. Power was restored around 11pm.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Total ban on junk food ads wanted

Anti-obesity groups are applauding new $6 million advertising campaign promoting healthy diets for children, but wants more from the Government. Health Minister Pete Hodgson has launched the Feeding our Futures campaign which offers tips to encourage healthy lifestyles. Leigh Sturgiss from Obesity Action Coalition says the campaign provides a good platform for talking about children's nutrition but she wants a total ban on the advertising of junk food. She says the voluntary advertising code announced last week does not go far enough.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

How not to catch a cold

A number of Auckland primary students will today share a safe-sneezing message so their peers do not spread their colds. The annual safe-sneezing programme kicks off in schools this morning and includes information packs and lessons on how to sneeze safely. It also includes an online virtual sneeze so students can witness a 'risky' sneeze without catching it.
Browns Bay School principal Roger Harnett says his Year 2 students have been busy practicing safe methods so they can teach fellow students today. Virologist Lance Jennings will also be on hand. He says the initiative will help safeguard the influenza high-risk groups as well as the wider population over time.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Troops Timor-bound

The latest contingent of New Zealand peacekeepers is on its way to East Timor. More than 100 Defence Force personnel left Christchurch this morning. The soldiers, who are mostly at the Burnham Military Camp, should be home by Christmas. They will be stationed in the capital Dili for the next six months.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Woman dies after eating magic mushrooms

A Hamilton woman is dead after eating magic mushrooms. Police say the 23-year-old died late last night. The case has been referred to the coroner. The active ingredient in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, is classified as an illegal class A drug. It has effects similar to LSD.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Zimbabwe expats to march on Parliament

Zimbabwean expatriates and their supporters are to march on Parliament today. The march is timed to coincide with Africa Day and includes exiled activists, Amnesty International and other opponents of the Mugabe regime. They want to thank the Government for its support of Zimbabwean migrants as well as remind people of the worsening situation in their homeland.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Kiwi accent broadens in battle against globalisation

Despite the pressures of globalisation, the New Zealand accent is becoming broader, an Auckland University of Technology (AUT) study has shown. AUT professor of language and communication Allan Bell studied recordings of more than 300 voices over a 30-year period, from ordinary New Zealanders to well-known broadcasting personalities. Battling the pressures of globalisation and homogenisation of language, New Zealand English was "becoming ever more distinctively itself", Dr Bell said. "Everybody thought it would end up sounding even more Australian or more American or whatever, but in fact the things that make New Zealand English different from other dialects are increasing rather than diminishing," Dr Bell told the New Zealand Herald today. The change in the New Zealand accent over the last 30 years was obvious, particularly in some of the vowel sounds.
Source:NZPA

Govt launches healthy eating programme

The Government has launched a new healthy eating programme to help make sure children get a balanced diet. Feeding our Futures has been launched by the Minister of Health Pete Hodgson at the Agencies for Nutrition Action conference in Rotorua. The new campaign aims to deliver a series of tips for parents on ways to achieve heathy diets for their children. The tips will be promoted thorough radio, TV and print advertising. Feeding our Futures is one of a number of initiatives under the Government's Healthy Eating Healthy Action strategy, designed to improve nutrition and prevent obesity.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

WWII Grenade Safe Says Army

A grenade given to police in Christchurch this morning has been declared safe and will be disposed of by the Army. An elderly woman gave the device to police officers who were attending a road accident in Merivale early this morning. The woman said she had been meaning to get rid of the grenade, which her husband had kept since World War Two. The weapon was inspected by an army bomb disposal expert who said it was safe to handle because it had no detonator. He says the grenade was just a routine job, as five or six are discovered in Christchurch each year.
© NewsRoom 2007

More Money To Combat Smoking

The Government has allocated $43.6 million for measures aimed at cutting the number of smokers in New Zealand. The funding over four years will be used to widen access to nicotine replacement products and expand the Quitline telephone service. And it will fund health initiatives and advertise new warning images on cigarette packs being introduced in February. Associate Health Minister Damian O'Connor says it will also help target young Maori women. He says smoking rates among Maori have reduced from 50 to 45 percent in recent years, but the Government wants to see faster progress.
© NewsRoom 2007

Yachting-Team NZ cruises into challenger final

Stuff.co.nz, with NZPA
Team New Zealand has cruised past Spain's Desafio Espanol to reach the final of the America's Cup challenger series, the Louis Vuitton Cup, in difficult conditions off Valencia early today. The Kiwis won by 1 minute, 18 seconds to eliminate the Spanish outfit in choppy waters and take an unassailable 5-2 lead in the best-of-nine semifinal. Team New Zealand will now face Italy's Luna Rossa in the Louis Vuitton Cup final for the right to vie with defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland for the cup they lost to the Swiss off Auckland in 2003.

Penguins killed by dogs

By SANDRA COX - The Press
Angry conservationists have vented their fury against the owners of dogs that are killing little blue penguins. Dogs recently killed three adult birds and dug up four burrows on Camerons beach, south of Greymouth. Members of the West Coast Blue Penguin Trust have strung one of the carcasses from a wooden stick on the beach and written "dog kill" in the sand beneath. Trust co-ordinator Jill Cotton said the deaths could devastate colony numbers because adult penguins could have up to 20 chicks.

More trans-Tasman traffic for Air NZ

Air New Zealand is putting on more flights between Auckland and Adelaide and is trying to encourage more Australians to visit Queenstown. From the beginning of November the national carrier will fly the Adelaide route six times a week and from February 2008 it will offer daily flights. The airline will also offer a direct summer flight between Queenstown and Melbourne, in a bid to lure visitors to the resort town over summer, not just during the ski season.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

North Shore to get tsunami warning system

A new hi-tech warning phone system will soon be available for residents on Auckland's North Shore to alert them of a tsunami, a move council and civil defence officials hopes will save lives in an emergency. The tsunami alert system, designed to warn 15,000 homes and businesses in a matter of seconds, was approved by North Shore City Council and Civil Defence in preparation for the threat of a tsunami. Residents living in coastal areas identified as warning zones will receive a letter next week inviting them to join in the city's new high tech telephone alert system – believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand. When a tsunami is declared by National Civil Defence, the system is activated to automatically send telephone calls to those listed on the alert database.
Source:NZPA

Sir Ed's reunion with old friend

Legendary mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary will meet with the Dalai Lama when he visits New Zealand next month. The trust organising the visit says the pair have been close friends for several years. Sir Edmund will accompany the Dalai Lama to a mayoral welcome in Auckland and introduce him at a public address at Vector Arena in Auckland in June. Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegal will also be at the address.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

River bursts its banks after heavy rain

Torrential rain in Taranaki has caused the Oakura River to burst its banks flooding houses and washing a car downstream and out to sea. Heavy rain has also struck Nelson, Taranaki and Kapiti. Rain is continuing to fall across much of Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, but is unlikely to ease the drought in Hawke's Bay.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Nelson firefighters finish worst of clean-up

Firefighters in Nelson have finished the worst of the mop-up following last night's torrential downpour. Nearly 100 mills of rain fell on the city in 24 hours to ten this morning, with the worst affected area around Nayland Road in Stoke. Three schools have been closed today and many people had to have water pumped out of their properties.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Maori Queen’s Reign Remembered In Rain

Hundreds have gathered in pouring rain at Turangawaewae Marae near Hamilton to remember the coronation of the Maori Queen. Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu died in August last year and was due to celebrate the 41st anniversary of her coronation today.
A powhiri has been taking place and iwi leaders from across the country have expressed their love for Dame Te Ata and for her iwi, Tainui. Later today, seven kowhai trees will be planted in Te Arikinui's honour and an exhibition featuring photos from her reign will be opened.
© NewsRoom 2007

Men shying away from teaching

An academic believes research needs to be carried out into why men are shying away from becoming teachers. Fewer than 10 percent of the early childhood and primary school teachers graduated at a recent ceremony at Massey University. Pro Vice-Chancellor of Massey's College of Education James Chapman says there is a lot of speculation about why men are not getting into teaching. He says some of his female colleagues say the curriculum has become so feminised, men do not feel comfortable with it.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Washington job for top cop

Canterbury's top cop is on the move. District Commander Superintendent Sandra Manderson has accepted the job of liaison officer for the New Zealand police in Washington. Her main role will be to support investigations and enquiries between the two countries. Ms Manderson has been district commander for five years and it's time for a new challenge as well as new blood in the region.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Bob Dylan to play in NZ

Bob Dylan is heading Downunder in August for a tour that will include shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The tour, which includes five Australian shows, follows the release of Dylan's 32nd album, Modern Times, and will be his first trip here for over four years.
Tickets will be available from June 7 for shows on August 8 at the Westpac Arena in Christchurch, August 10 at Wellington's TSB Arena and August 11 at Auckland's Vector Arena.
NZPA

NZ wants Fiji peacekeepers banned

The New Zealand Government says it will continue to lobby the United Nations to ban Fiji soldiers from taking part in peacekeeping operations around the world. Fijilive reports Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand remains opposed to the UN using Fijian peacekeepers in places like Iraq, and will continue to strongly press the point. Yesterday, the UN Secretary General's Office said Fiji's military contribution to the peacekeeping operations will still be considered on a case by case basis. New Zealand and Australia have been objecting to the use of Fiji military personnel since last December's coup.

$300m convention centre proposed for Auckland

By KIM RUSCOE - Fairfax Media
A new $300 million national convention centre is being proposed for Auckland. According to an Auckland City Council briefing paper, the proposed 2500-seat centre would rival those in Sydney and Melbourne and would generate about $65 million in revenue a year, create thousands of jobs and attract a wide spectrum of international conferences and events. Based on high-level drawings, it would cost about $300 million to build.

National MP apologises for swearing in House

A National Party MP has apologised to Parliament for swearing in the House this afternoon. Microphones in the debating chamber picked up Nick Smith's utterance in response to an answer from the government on the subject of climate change. The slip of the tongue prompted a point of order from Labour and other MPs. Dr Smith was quick to oblige. The faux pas comes less than two months after microphones picked up a profanity uttered by Education Minister Steve Maharey.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Cluster bomb conference in capital

New Zealand will be hosting a major international conference on restricting the use of cluster bombs. Defence Minister Phil Goff has announced Wellington will be the location for the February 2008 event which is expected to attract delegates from more than 100 countries. It is also expected to be attended by 300 government agencies, non-government organisations and United Nations officials. Phil Goff says it is important the conference be hosted in the Asia Pacific region where countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam still have to cope with the impact of cluster munitions left by historic conflicts.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

New volcanoes discovered near Raoul

Marine geologists have discovered two new submarine volcanoes near Raoul Island. The scientists were investigating the past behaviour and risk of volcanoes in the Kermadec Arc when they stumbled on the find. The volcanoes have relatively small craters measuring about four kilometres in diameter. However one is very deep measuring about a thousand metres from the rim to the crater floor.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Job losses at Sky City

Casino and cinema operator Sky City has announced plans to cut jobs, reduce costs and possibly sell some of its subsidiaries. Two hundred and 30 jobs are going on both sides of the Tasman as Sky City identifies $33 million of cost savings. It plans to cut back on sponsorships and its businesses not making enough money will be sold. The focus is on its movie theatres, its casino in Adelaide, which it says is not performing to expectations and needs an injection of further capital, and its 40 percent holding in the Christchurch Casino. A complete overhaul of the gaming strategy at its Auckland casino will be undertaken and the company will spend $A30 million on expanding its Darwin facility.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

New Zealand cancels Ukraine match

New Zealand has cancelled an international soccer friendly against World Cup quarter finalist Ukraine because eight of its first-choice players were unavailable. New Zealand was scheduled to meet Ukraine at Kiev on June 7 but without the eight regulars and a lack of depth, the New Zealand federation felt the match would have been worthless. "This was a tough decision to take and a disappointing one but it is the right decision," New Zealand Football chief executive Graham Seatter said.

NZ Centre opens in China

A New Zealand research centre has been launched at Peking University in Beijing, China as part of a University of Auckland initiative to strengthen its ties in China. The New Zealand Centre will offer courses on New Zealand, facilitate student exchanges and projects between the two countries. University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon says Auckland University is strongly committed to engagement with China.

Miss Samoa and Miss Punjaban in New Zealand

Miss Samoa and Miss Punjaban were both celebrated in Manukau city over the weekend. It was the first time ever for the Miss Punjaban event which included categories like “Miss Beautiful Smile” and “Miss Beautiful Long Hair”. The event was so successful it will be back again next year.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Rural doctors desperate over shortages

By DAN HUTCHINSON - The Press
Desperate rural doctors are scouring the world to fill vacancies. Health providers around the South Island are struggling to book patients in with local GP practices, citing an ageing doctors' pool and growing populations. In Marlborough alone, more than 10 per cent of the population is not registered with a GP. In South Canterbury, about 160 people are on a waiting list for a GP.
New Zealand Rural GP Network chairman Tim Malloy said the doctor shortage was getting worse.
He was hopeful a new strategy put forward by the Government's Workforce Taskforce was finally heading in the right direction. He said overseas expos and targeted internet-based recruitment campaigns were being used to fill vacancies.

Hundreds of cars seized in boy racer crackdown

Scores of cars are being taken off the road from boy-racer hotspots as police crack down on illegal street racing. Storage depots in south Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch were crammed with cars impounded in swoops by police and other authorities, the New Zealand Herald reported today. South Auckland police said they were seizing more than 50 cars a week since tougher legislation came into effect in May 2003. That legislation gave police the power to automatically impound cars for 28 days if they were being driven with unnecessary speed or acceleration or were doing burnouts, the newspaper reported. In the past week, Counties-Manukau police seized 76 vehicles. In Canterbury, police seized 30 vehicles during an operation on Friday and Saturday nights, and in Tauranga, police have made 798 prosecutions for "boy-racer offences" since January 2005. The Waitemata police district, which covers North Shore, Henderson and Rodney, has impounded 933 vehicles – 46 a week – this year.
Source:NZPA

Retailers selling cigarettes to minors targeted

Community health officials running a controlled purchase operation targeting tobacco retailers in Christchurch were shocked to find the first two shops visited sold cigarettes to minors. Both shops are now facing prosecution and fines after a recent Community and Public Health controlled purchase operation. Retailers risk fines of up to $2000 for selling tobacco products to people under 18. Repeat offenders can be banned from selling tobacco for up to three months.
Source:NZPA

Troublesome nappy up for auction

The nappy which sparked an armed offenders squad callout in Auckland is being auctioned on TradeMe to pay back police for their wasted time. The item was part of a costume for an actor in the weekend's 48 Hour Film Festival, but the sight of a gun-wielding man wearing a nappy was too much for one of the neighbours. Paul Scott was part of the film crew and says they are just trying to put things right by auctioning the nappy. The current bid is $4.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Yachting-Next step beckons for Team New Zealand

A lay day off Valencia this morning with Team New Zealand plotting how to secure one more win over the Spanish Challenge to book a spot in the Louis Vuitton Cup final against Luna Rossa. NZL 92 leads Desafio Espanol 4-2 in the best of nine race series. Team New Zealand afterguard coach Rod Davis has cast an eye over the Italians who were impressive in thrashing Oracle 5-1, and he believes they can match Luna Rossa if they get the chance. He says NZL 92 and Luna Rossa are in the same family so he does not expect boat-speed differences. Davis does see Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill looming as a major obstacle, should they get to the final. He says that on the surface Spithill's starts look very good but until all the data is looked at it is hard to gauge his impact. Team New Zealand will look to wrap up their semifinal series against Desafio Espanol in race seven tomorrow.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ Hercules exercising in Canada

A New Zealand Air Force Hercules will team up today with about 60 other military aircraft in Canada. The C130 is taking part in the air exercise Maple Flag. Other countries taking part in the four week exercise include Canada, Belgium, Germany, France and Singapore.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Airport Lights Thwart Flight To Niue

Seventy-eight passengers on an Air New Zealand flight to Niue have had to return to Auckland after their flight was aborted due to problems at Niue's airport. A technical malfunction with the airport approach lights forced the plane to go into an hour-long holding pattern while engineers tried to fix the problem. But they were unsuccessful and the plane then flew to Tonga to refuel before returning to Auckland. The flight is now due to leave Auckland again tonight. Niue Premier Young Vivian says the lighting system at the airport is new, but recent heavy rain has affected its operation.

Fiji bloggers get international support after crackdown

An international internet free speech support group says it will be informing the worldwide online community about Fiji's efforts to muzzle its critics. Fiji's military has been trying to silence a group of anonymous self proclaimed 'Freedom Bloggers' who have used the internet to criticise the interim government and military which have taken power since last year's coup. As well as trying to find the bloggers, the military has told the country's internet provider, Fintel, it must block access to the websites.

Northland to get new $10m tourist ship

The InterCity Group announced today it had commissioned a fuel-efficient small ship that would cost $10 million to build. The 46-metre catamaran would cruise at 12 knots. The company said building would begin early next year and would take 18 months. Kings Dolphin Cruises & Eco Tours, part of InterCity Group, would operate the new vessel out of Opua in the Bay of Islands. The company said the modern diesel-electric system for propulsion and power generation, could reduce carbon emissions by up to 60 per cent. Overnight cruises would cost from $349 a person.
Source:NZPA

Tonne of stamps heads from Otaki to UK

Otaki-based stamp dealer Mowbrays said there has never been a stamp shipment like it before and there will never be one again. Mowbrays is sending a record shipment of 11.5 million New Zealand stamps to the United Kingdom. The stamps weigh a tonne and have been packed into 160 cartons on pellets for export by sea. "This is unique," said managing director John Mowbray. The stamps came from the giant Stirling collection bought out by Mowbrays three years ago. That stock included stamps from the Laurie Franks 1950s Christchurch stock and the Wilcox Smith collection from Dunedin in the early 1900s. Mr Mowbray said the stamps were basically the stock collection from these dealers. Many are stamps that people soaked off envelopes to give to church fundraisers. He declined to state the value of the collection, saying it was confidential. Mowbrays said the stamps are being sent on consignment to UK dealer Apex Philatelics. They date back to the 1930s.
Source:NZPA

Website connecting rural communities

A new website has been set up to connect rural communities. www.ruralnetwork.co.nz is the initiative of Dow AgroSciences. Marketing manager Kirsty Sanders says the website provides a number of services including weather forecasts, a marketplace, tips and hints. She says farmers can log in and communicate with others in the rural sector who they may be geographically distanced from. "New Zealand is still very much an agricultural country and farming is the backbone. I think often in the media, farmers' opinions are getting lost. We hope this will provide us with an area for farmers to get online and start to discuss issues that are pertinent to them and stimulate some lively debate."
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Clark welcomes Greek anti-whaling move

The anti-whaling lobby appears to have a new ally ahead of an upcoming meeting of the International Whaling Commission. Following bilateral talks with visiting Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, Prime Minister Helen Clark is welcoming Greece's decision to join the International Whaling Commission. Miss Clark says the IWC is quite finely poised between those that support the conservation of whales and those that do not. She says Greece coming in on the conservation side is greatly appreciated.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Orion lends a hand to stricken Pacific vessel

There has been a lucky break for three sailors of a fishing vessel, off the north coast of Samoa. A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion was sent out last night to search for the boat, after a distress call was made. It is believed the engine of the vessel stopped. The Orion crew was able to quickly pinpoint the boat's location and a nearby fishing vessel was contacted to lend a hand. Replacement batteries were given to the sailors, and the boat was able to continue its journey without incident.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Kiwi stunt man tipped for international award

Kiwi Ben Cooke is tipped to be in the running for an award in LA today for his death-defying stunt work on the James Bond flick ‘Casino Royale’. He is up for 'Best Fight' and 'Best High Work' at the Taurus World Stunt Awards, being televised from Paramount Pictures. For his role as Daniel Craig's stunt double, Cooke was required to jump from one crane to another at a height of over 45 metres. Min Windle from New Zealand's Stunt Guild says the industry here is abuzz with his nomination. Wellingtonian Kirk Maxwell is also up for 'Best Fight' for his work on ‘Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest’.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

More Funds For Te Araroa Walkway

The Department of Conservation has been granted $3.8 million over four years, to add up to 150 kilometres to the national walkway Te Araroa. It is a system of public walkways and tracks that has been mapped throughout the country and which aims to connect Cape Reinga and Bluff. The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, made the announcement of the increased funding before walking a section of the track from an outdoor centre near Levin.
© NewsRoom 2007

Kiwi tipped to replace World Bank pres

A New Zealander is tipped to replace the outgoing president of the World Bank, who leaves with a massive golden handshake. Paul Wolfowitz stands down next month, after being forced out by a scandal surrounding a promotion he organised for his girlfriend. US correspondent Richard Arnold says ironically, Wolfowitz will be given a performance bonus of around $NZ570,000. The World Bank's managing director, New Zealander Graeme Wheeler is favourite as Wolfowitz's replacement.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Team NZ and Luna Rossa close in on final

Team New Zealand and Italy's Luna Rossa today moved within touching distance of meeting in next month's America's Cup challengers' yachting final in Valencia. Both took their latest race in the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals by a comfortable margin to grab a 4-1 lead over their respective opponents and close to within one win of clinching a berth in the final.
Team NZ beat Spain's Desafio Espanol by one minute 49 seconds, but it was the other semifinal that continued to attract the most attention. Luna Rossa downed American syndicate Oracle Racing by 1min 57sec, after young Australian helmsman James Spithill again won the start against New Zealand counterpart Chris Dickson.
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

Cameron fight with Holyfield the real deal

By STEVE KILGALLON - Sunday Star Times
A millionaire Australian property developer has offered boxing great Evander Holyfield $NZ1.3 million for an October fight in Melbourne against New Zealand heavyweight boxer Shane Cameron. The Sunday Star-Times can reveal the four-time world champion says the purse offer tabled by John Fitzgerald - whose corporate website says his development companies turn over $A100m a year - is acceptable. "Real Deal" Holyfield is now viewing videotapes of Cameron's recent performances before giving a final decision, but the man promoting the contest is confident he will agree to the bout.

Rugby: Bulls become SA first Super 14 rugby champions

The Bulls are South Africa's first ever Super rugby champions. They snatched glory from the Sharks 20 - 19 in Durban this morning. A jampacked Kings Park was in celebration mode when lock Albert van den Berg barged over with two minutes left on the clock. But the Bulls threw caution to the wind and flying winger Bryan Habana hit back in injury time, and the conversion sent an eerie hush through the stadium.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Correspondence school a dumping ground

The National Party believes the correspondence school has become the dumping ground for pupils rejected by the mainstream education system. Associate Education spokesman Colin King says correspondence school was once a New Zealand icon, providing a decent education for the children of families in remote places. But he says unfortunately that is a thing of the past because they are now being used to clear the decks of troublesome students. Mr King says since 2000, the number of pupils given their marching orders from mainstream schools has jumped more than 42 percent. He says last year the correspondence school roll swelled to more than 21,500, and far too many of those on the roll were simply unruly and difficult cast-offs ejected from the mainstream system.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Samoans farewell their king and 'father'

Thousands of Samoans, including chiefs in traditional island skirts, ringed the country's parliament yesterday for the funeral of the "father of the nation", King Malietoa Tanumafili II. Malietoa, the world's oldest monarch who ruled the tiny Pacific country for 45 years before his death a week ago at 94, was farewelled by a 300-strong choir and a police honour guard as Pacific leaders and royalty watched in silent tribute. Samoa's prime minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, and Malietoa's son delivered eulogies to a man New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said had left a giant legacy in the Pacific through 45 years of "extraordinary achievement". Malietoa was Samoa's king since the nation of about 180,000 people gained independence from New Zealand in 1962 and was loved by his people, who have mourning his death for a week.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Yachting-Team NZ and Luna Rossa close in on final

Team New Zealand and Italy's Luna Rossa today moved within touching distance of meeting in next month's America's Cup challengers' yachting final in Valencia. Both took their latest race in the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals by a comfortable margin to grab a 4-1 lead over their respective opponents and close to within one win of clinching a berth in the final.
Team NZ beat Spain's Desafio Espanol by one minute 49 seconds, but it was the other semifinal that continued to attract the most attention. Luna Rossa downed American syndicate Oracle Racing by 1min 57sec, after young Australian helmsman James Spithill again won the start against New Zealand counterpart Chris Dickson. The encounter was virtually decided in an incident-packed pre-start, with Spithill able to inflict two penalties in quick succession on the more experienced Dickson.
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

Young maestro to head NZ orchestra

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has a rapidly rising star as its new musical director. Finnish violinist and conductor, Pietari Inkinen, has abandoned his career as a rock musician and professional footballer to take up the baton for the NZSO. And he's only 27.
The young maestro started conducting at 14 and moulds the orchestra's performance in close consultation with his pianist. He is part of an international trend to younger conductors - a 26-year-old and a 32-year-old have just taken over two of the world's greatest orchestras. Inkinen will be with the NZSO for 10-12 weeks each year. For the rest of the time he will be conducting orchestras all around the world such as the BBC Symphony and the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Cincinnatti.
Source:One News

Severe Weather Warning For South Island

Warnings of high winds and heavy rain have been issued for much of the South Island over the next 24 hours. Up to 140 millimetres of rain is expected in Fiordland, and up to 200 millimetres in Westland, as a front crosses the South Island today. Heavy rainfall is also expected in the Buller ranges, swelling the headwaters of the Canterbury and Otago Rivers. The Met Service says anyone in those areas should watch for rising streams and rivers. High winds are set to follow the front, with severe gale force winds forecast for Southland, Otago, inland Canterbury and Banks Peninsula tonight.
© NewsRoom 2006

Rare Red Crowned Kakariki In Nelson Sanctuary

A native bird considered to be almost extinct from the South Island has been spotted at Nelson's Brook Waimarama Sanctuary. Volunteers helping with pest control at the wildlife sanctuary saw a red-crowned Kakariki or parakeet. The chair of the sanctuary, David Butler, says the volunteers took several photos of the bird and sent them to him to identify. Mr Butler says from the volunteers’ description he had expected to see a photo of the more common yellow-crowned kakariki, but was amazed to find it was the rare red crowned variety. He says in many years of bird watching he has only seen one red-crowned kakariki, and that was 20 years ago.
© NewsRoom 2007

OE in Singapore?

Singapore's government is hoping to lure away a few bright young New Zealanders with a new working holiday scheme. Starting in December, university students and graduates aged between 17 and 30 will be able to stay and work in Singapore for up to six months. It is part of Singapore's drive to attract internationals and new immigrants, to compensate for a sharp decline in population.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Concerns Over NZers’ Information Used Overseas

The Privacy Commissioner has increasing concerns over the amount of private information being kept and used overseas. Marie Shroff says New Zealanders are giving large amounts of personal data such as credit card or passport details to various organisations including banks, internet sites or government organisations. But Ms Shroff warns that some of these are based offshore and says New Zealand's privacy laws do not apply there. She says it is a major concern if a person's details get into the wrong hands. Ms Shroff says people should be very selective about what information they share with overseas organisations.
© NewsRoom 2007

Yachting: NZL 92 beats the Spaniards again

Team New Zealand's muscle-men sealed a crucial 42-second win over the Spaniards in the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals this morning. Dean Barker won the start and kept the pressure on. NZL 92 now holds a 3-1 lead in the first to five series, while Luna Rossa dealt another body blow to the heavily financed Oracle, winning by 23-seconds.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Hawke's Bay farmers facing drought

By BERNARD CARPINTER - The Dominion Post
Warm, dry weather in Hawke's Bay this year has been a boon for wine producers but has left other farmers facing drought conditions. While winemakers celebrate a near-perfect vintage, many farmers are having to sell their stock - at depressed prices - because they don't have enough grass to feed them through the winter. Below-average rainfall has also affected some areas of Kapiti Coast, Waikato, Bay of Plenty as well as Central Otago, Nelson and Marlborough.

Woman 'stole car to take nephews to school'

A woman stopped for driving a stolen sports car told police she took the vehicle to ferry her three young nephews to school. The woman was pulled over as she drove the red high-performance car with her boyfriend and three children squeezed into the small back seat on Auckland's North Shore on Wednesday morning, the Weekend Herald reported today. Police were looking for the car after a North Shore service station attendant reported its driver had driven off without paying for petrol. Senior Sergeant Rod Fraser, told the newspaper two primary school children, aged about 10 and 11, found in the car were taken to school by police. Another boy, aged about 14, walked to school.
Source:NZPA

New govt-funded petroleum hunt begins

The Government agency for promoting and managing oil exploration kicked off the start of its third seismic data survey looking for petrol. Crown Minerals yesterday said 2200km of 2D seismic data would be acquired north of the Raukumara Peninsula, off the east coast of the North Island. A further 300km would be covered off the southern Wairarapa Coast. Both areas are believed to have features of interest to exploration companies. The survey is part of a $15 million government fund to encourage more oil exploration in New Zealand.
Source:NZPA

Footprint only clue

Around 50 people will take part in today's search ad the hunt continued for a tramper missing in the Kahurangi National Park near Nelson. Mapua man Steven Thornborrow failed to return from a bushwalk on Thursday. Search team member, John Haines, says a large effort is going on over a wide area. Mr Haines says the only lead found so far is a footprint.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Peters resumes globe-trot

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is headed overseas again, this time his destination is China. Mr Peters has been back in the country for just over a week following a trip to Europe and his latest mission will see him away until the end of the month. He will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and discussions will focus on the upcoming East Asia Summit and progress on talks with North Korea regarding its nuclear programme. Winston Peters will also open the New Zealand Centre at Peking University.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Quake rocks islands north of New Zealand

A strong 5.8-magnitude earthquake has struck off the Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand. The United States Geological Survey says the quake, at a depth of 35 kilometres below the earth's surface, was centred 150 kilometres southwest of Raoul Island. There were no immediate reports of damage, casualties or a tsunami. Raoul Island is a volcanic island about 1,000 kilometres northeast of Auckland.

Samoa-Funeral on Maori TV

The state funeral of Samoa's Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II, will be screened live on Maori Television tomorrow. The broadcast, from 8.30am, from Samoa will also be simulcast on the channel's website
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Fuel tax will stretch families

The proposed regional fuel tax is going to cause more problems than it solves for families according to a budgeting expert. A billion dollar boost will replace Auckland's diesel trains with an electric network like Sydney's. The government will pay half the cost of the upgrade the other $500 million will come from a 10 cent a litre fuel tax in the region. Prime Minister Helen Clark says there is a need for big investment in transport but the government feels it can't ask the Invercargill taxpayer to pay for the electrification of Auckland rail and the upgrade of service in Wellington.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Florida police still investigating disappearance of NZer

Police in Florida are still working on the case of a missing New Zealander who vanished on a holiday nearly five months ago. 45-year-old teacher Leonard Taku was holidaying in the US and was last seen on Christmas Day at Tampa International Airport. His rental car was found abandoned in a nearby forest in February. Tampa Airport Police have spoken to a person of interest who was seen with Mr Taku before he disappeared, but no charges have been laid.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Rugby-All Black Squad Named

There are two new names in the All Black squad of 30 named for the tests against France and Canada and then the Tri-Nations. The Chiefs halfback Brendan Leonard and Hurricanes prop John Schwalger are the newcomers, while Troy Flavell and Isaia Toeva return to the fold. Not selected are Ma'a Nonu, Jimmy Cowan and Rico Gear, while Sione Lauaki was not considered because of injury.
The full squad is: MacDonald, Muliaina, Rocokoco, Sivivatu, Howlett, Smith, Toeava, Mauger, McAlister, Evans, Carter, Weepu, Leonard, Kelleher, So'oialo, Flavell, Thorne, Collins, McCaw, Masoe, Jack, Robinson, Williams, Schwalger, Tialata, Woodcock, Hayman, Hore, Oliver and Mealamu.
© NewsRoom 2007

Company Switches Bus Fleet To Biodiesel Fuel

A Christchurch bus company is running its entire fleet on a biodiesel fuel blend. Leopard Coachlines has been trialing two of its buses on biodiesel since September last year. Last week the company began to run all 100 of its buses on the new fuel. Leopard Coachlines spokesman Martz Witty says his company wanted to make the switch before it is required by the Government.
© NewsRoom 2007

Nervous calm in Timor ahead of inauguration

New Zealand Defence Force personnel are hoping the inauguration of East Timor's president-elect Jose Ramos Horta on Sunday will bring no further violence. Since the elections, there have been small clashes between rival groups, which have claimed one life. Several homes have been burned down and people have been fleeing the Ermera Province southeast of the capital Dili. Colonel Paul van den Broek says people on the streets have accepted the election result and do not want the future of their country to begin violently. He says politicians from all sides have done well to keep a lid potential problems. New Zealand troops will be on patrol for the inauguration this weekend.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Otago the star of economic activity

Economic activity in 11 out of 14 regions has risen in the first three months of the year according to the National Bank's latest survey. Otago posted the largest quarterly increase, expanding 2.7 percent from the end of last year. It is the strongest gain the region has seen in 13 years. The South Island recorded a 1.7 percent rise, more than twice the 0.8 percent increase recorded in the North Island. Waikato retained the honour of being the fastest growing region, with year-on-year economic growth lifting to a three year high of 4.3 percent. Business confidence is returning to Auckland, with the region showing 0.7 per cent growth Hawke's Bay slipped to bottom place on the regional growth table with economic growth in the region easing to its lowest rate of increase in seven years. Taranaki and Northland showed a drop in economic activity. Economic activity in 11 out of 14 regions has risen in the first three months of the year according to the National Bank's latest survey.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News