Rugby-Deans 'keen' to coach All Blacks

It's official. Crusaders head coach Robbie Deans today declared his desire for the All Blacks coaching spot – should it become vacant. Deans formally announced his availability at a news conference in Christchurch following the Crusaders squad announcement for the 2008 Super 14 competition. He also said he would not be interviewed for the Wallabies' head coaching job. Confirmation of Deans' interest in the top job – should the NZRU board opt for changes after considering an independent review of the failed World Cup campaign – came as no surprise. Intense speculation on his future since the All Blacks were eliminated by France in the Cup quarter-finals on October 7, prompted Deans to say he would apply to potentially succeed Graham Henry should he not be retained, or seek a new contract.
Source:NZPA

NSW police look into complaint about NZ citrus marketer

NSW police are investigating a complaint about a New Zealand citrus marketer who is accused of owing growers in New South Wales about $A600,000. New Zealander Mark Richards is said to have set up the MJT marketing company with considerable fanfare in Griffith, a regional service centre for the Murrumbidgee irrigation area. Growers say Mr Richards' company promised to pay up to $A150 per tonne more for their oranges, but they were not paid. After delivering the fruit, they have been left out of pocket.
© 2007 Radio New Zealand

Hayes wind farm project approved

A wind farm near Ranfurly with 176 turbines has been granted resource consent by the Central Otago District Council. Meridian Energy says the Hayes wind farm will generate up to 630 megawatts - enough electricity to power all homes in Otago, plus Dunedin and Christchurch. Project Hayes is located to the south of Ranfurly on the Lammermoor Range, about 70km northwest of Dunedin.
© 2007 Radio New Zealand

Students win fellowships for Maori research

Two Maori doctoral students at Massey University are among 16 emerging researchers awarded lucrative fellowships towards work which draws on distinct Maori knowledge. Whetu Simon will put the funding toward a three-year investigation into internet strategies to enhance Maori economic and social wellbeing. He also aims to explore the potential of online digital environments to support Maori e-business. Fellow recipient Margaret Forster says her project will demonstrate how Maori can engage in species and wetland ecosystem restoration and management through the innovative use of Maori knowledge, principles and concepts. The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology granted the 16 Te Tipu Putaiao Fellowships which are worth up to $107,500 each.
Source:NZPA

Jellyfish swarm in Nelson waters

By NAOMI MITCHELL - The Nelson Mail
Unusually large swarms of stinging jellyfish on the Nelson coastline are proving a pain for swimmers, boaties and beachgoers. Cawthron Institute marine ecologist Rod Asher said "many thousands" of the lion's mane jellyfish had been blown into Nelson waters from Cook Strait by strong northerlies earlier this month. They had remained because they could not swim against the current. "They are sort of stuck." They had been reported inside the haven, 3km outside the Cut, at Croisilles Harbour and in Golden Bay.

Carter and Cunliffe shift to front bench

There are two new faces on Labour's front bench after a major Cabinet reshuffle. Chris Carter has become Education Minister, while David Cunliffe has been rewarded with the Health portfolio. There are three new faces at the Cabinet table, Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick becomes Conservation Minister and Women's Affairs Minister. Former Labour Party president Maryan Street becomes Ministers of ACC and Housing. Shane Jones has been promoted to Building and Construction Minister.
click HERE for full story
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Housing insulation rules start

New homes built in the South Island and the North Island's Central Plateau will have to be better insulated in a government push for warmer and drier homes, but it will come at a cost. From Wednesday, new homes built there must have double glazed windows and more ceiling and wall insulation, expected to cost up to $5,000 a house. But the government is saying the new regulations will save home owners money on their power bills. The new insulation regulations come into effect over the rest of the country late next year.
Source:One News

Intermediate pupils keen to learn another language

By Martha McKenzie-Minifie
Children are increasingly learning a foreign language at intermediate school, with new figures showing the number rose by more than a third in two years. European languages were the most popular for pupils in Year 1 to 8 last year, with almost 14,000 students signing up for 30 hours or more last year. But the biggest growth was in Asian languages - up 45 per cent on a year earlier. Languages were expected get a bigger push in the new curriculum, due to be introduced next week.
©2007, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Review has crosshairs on deadly crossbreeds

By MARTIN KAY - The Dominion Post
The owners of crossbreed dogs are expected to face tougher controls after a review prompted by the killing of Murupara woman Virginia Ohlson. Associate Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta will unveil plans today to strengthen dog control laws after the six-month review, ordered by Prime Minister Helen Clark days after Ms Ohlson's death on April 21. Miss Clark said she wanted the review to focus on designating more dogs as dangerous and menacing, focusing on crossbreeds such as the two that mauled Ms Ohlson to death as she walked to catch a bus. She also instructed Ms Mahuta and officials to examine ways to make local councils more active in declaring individual dogs dangerous, regardless of their breed.

Hoarding now a disorder

What can be harmless collecting for some people can develop into a fully-fledged disorder for others. Addiction counsellor Tom Claunch says around 25,000 New Zealanders may be living with the syndrome, which makes people compelled to collect and store things against their will. He says sufferers know their behaviour is not normal but are unable to stop. Mr Claunch says one client he worked with stacked his car wall-to wall with junk and was barely able to see out the windscreen. There are a number of treatment options available including a 12 step group called Clutterers Anonymous.
What can be harmless collecting for some people can develop into a fully-fledged disorder for others.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Tougher controls for food imports

The Food Safety Authority is introducing tougher controls to provide consumers with greater assurance that imports meet food safety standards. Assistant Director Glen Neal says the new programme will better reflect the diversity of imported foods New Zealand consumers now want to buy. He says it'll move away from routine testing of a prescribed list of high-risk foods at the border, to one that sees foods grouped into three levels of high, medium and low risk. He says importers of high interest foods include raw milk products and shellfish. Neil says the new programme will be introduced within the next 18 months.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

$100 million US software firm to list on NZX (stock exchange)

By Liam Dann
A $100 million American software company with a local connection will list on the NZX before the end of the year, the Business Herald understands. New York based Diligent Boardbooks is expected to raise about $20 million on the local market and will have a market cap of $100 million. The company provides online software solutions to assist company directors by making key data easier to store, access and process. It will be the first US company to list on the NZX. It follows Dutch company Cavotech, which listed on the NZX last year after taking over local company Mooring Systems
©2007, APN Holdings NZ Limited

New Zealand defense force to buy 5 Italian light training helicopters

New Zealand's air force plans to buy five Italian light utility helicopters for training and light operations, the defense minister said Tuesday. Negotiations will begin shortly to buy the Agusta-Westland A109LUH choppers and a flight simulator, with a contract expected to be signed in early 2008, Defense Minister Phil Goff said in a statement. The new aircraft will replace Sioux training helicopters and complement navy Seasprite choppers and eight NH-90 troop transport helicopters already purchased by defense forces, Goff said. As well as training, the A109 can be used for search and rescue, air transport, medical evacuation, disaster response, surveillance and counterterrorism work, he said.

NZ signs tax agreement with Czech Republic

New Zealand has signed a double tax agreement with the Czech Republic, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today. He said that when it was in force the agreement would help reduce tax impediments to trade and investment between the two countries. "Current levels of trade and investment between New Zealand and the Czech Republic are modest but there is potential for growth, given that the former Czechoslovakia used to be one of our larger export markets in Central Europe," Mr Dunne said in a statement. New Zealand exports to the Czech Republic in the year to December 2004 consisted mainly of wool and were worth nearly $4 million. "Czech Republic exports to New Zealand for the same year consisted mainly of motor cars and were worth more than $27 million
Source:NZPA

Fiji police bound for Sudan peacekeeping

Seven Fiji Police officers are expected to leave the country for peacekeeping mission in Sudan next week. The officers will represent Fiji Police under the banner of the United Nations Mission in Sudan

Injured NZ soldiers treated in Germany

Two Kiwi soldiers injured in Afghanistan after a rifle was accidentally fired inside their vehicle have been evacuated to a coalition treatment centre in Germany. The pair was moved to Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre near Rammstein Air Force Base last night. One of the soldiers shot himself in the leg and the round also hit his colleague in the arm. The shooting, near Bagram Air Base, happened in a United States-built Hummer carrying four soldiers. One soldier had been standing sentry in the vehicle's hatch and was climbing back into the Hummer when his rifle went off. His Steyr rifle, the standard weapon used by New Zealand soldiers, was loaded and ready to fire in case of an ambush.
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

New Zealand looks to end live exports

New Zealand has banned live agricultural exports pending the outcome of a legislative review into the trade. The move follows a report into the treatment and handling of livestock during shipment and slaughter overseas. Although regular shipments of live sheep from New Zealand to the Middle East for slaughter ended some years ago, mainly breeding sheep and cattle are still exported live to markets such as China, Mexico and South America. Veterinary Association president John McLaughlin has welcomed the ban and urged law changes to protect New Zealand's reputation and animal welfare.

Man tried to post paua (abalone) to Hong Kong

A Wellington man has been sentenced to six months home detention after trying to post more than 300 kilograms of dried paua overseas. Kim Hong Rov has been convicted on two counts of breaching the Fisheries Act. The dried meat, equivalent to 1.5 tonnes of shucked paua, had been packed into boxes destined for Hong Kong. Fisheries investigation manager Mark Nicholson says it was a significant illegal export operation and the department is happy to have closed it down.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Palmerston North to keep flights to Aussie

Palmerston North Airport will retain trans-Tasman flights. Airport CEO Gary Goodman has announced Australian airline Ozjet will pick up the region's links with Australia when Freedom Air pulls out next year. Ozjet CEO Willie O'Neill says after a whirlwind tour of the Manawatu region and discussions with local business and council people, he feels the airline can deliver what the region wants. Palmerston North will be the only New Zealand centre working with Ozjet.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

NZ's second tallest building to reach for the Sky Tower

New Zealand's second-tallest building will transform the Auckland skyline in time for the Rugby World Cup 2011. The 67-storey, $450 million Elliott Tower will dwarf every building in the city except the Sky Tower. Auckland City Council yesterday gave planning permission for the 232m building. It will rise 55m above its next tallest competitor, the Vero Centre. The Sky Tower is 328m. The building - the brainchild of Korean developer Dae Ju Group - will fill a site at the corner of Victoria, Albert and Elliott Sts, now uses as a carpark and a bungy operation. The glass and aluminium profile will house six floors of basement car parking, a three-level retail podium and a 57-storey residential tower.
©2007, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Britomart smoke was 'diesel fumes'

The lunchtime evacuation of Auckland's Britomart train station is being put down to a technician doing routine maintenance on the fire alarm system. Station Manager Ray Steele says the technician triggered a false alarm. He says the smoke evacuees reported as stinging their eyes was diesel fumes from the trains.
NewstalkZB

Uruguayan president to visit NZ

Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez will make his first visit to New Zealand in mid-November. Dr Vazquez and Finance Minister Danilo Astori are expected to meet Prime Minister Helen Clark on November 12. They will visit Lincoln University on November 13. The following day, Dr Vazquez will address a Wellington business meeting on the Uruguayan economy and the existing and potential trade and economic relations between the two countries. Trade Minister Phil Goff has recently visited Uruguay.
Source:NZPA

Wrecked ship to be removed soon from Niue reef

Work to remove a fishing trawler which ran aground off Niue six months ago is expected to begin shortly. The Niue Government has directed the Reef Fishing Company to have the Jay Belinda removed from Liha Point because it is an environmental threat. When the boat ran aground on the reef in March around a thousand litres of fuel and other contaminants were removed. The manager of Reef Fishing, Kim Gordon, says the underwriters, Shipowners Mutual, have now signed a contractor to remove the vessel.

DOC earmarks 100 new campsites for summer

The Department of Conservation has drawn up a list of 100 possible new camping sites on land it administers. Conservation Minister Chris Carter said four new sites would open this summer and a fifth by the middle of next year. He said the list of around 100 sites had been drawn up after a review by DOC found rising land prices had caused a decline in the number of camping spots around the country – particularly on coastal land. One new site was at Canaan Downs at Takaka adjoining Abel Tasman National Park. Also opening by mid-year were campsites at:
# Moawhitu on D'Urville Island in the Marlborough Sounds;
# Moturua Island in the Bay of Islands;
# Ox Bow Kiripapango campsite on the banks of the Ngaruroro River in Kaweka Forest Park about 100km from Napier or Hastings;
# Lake Arapuni, 45km from Tokoroa;
Source:NZPA

Smoke billowing through Britomart

A fire has forced commuters to run from Auckland's Britomart train station. Andrew Russell says he cannot see any flames but smoke is billowing through the complex. He says there is something gritty in the smoke that is hurting his eyes, and it smells awful. Mr Russell says it seemed to take about five minutes of smoke before the evacuation orders were given.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Turtle design makes a splash

By BERNARD CARPINTER - The Dominion Post
Napier's proposed new museum will feature a translucent turtle-shell roof soaring up to enclose an existing theatre. The concept for the building - expected to cost at least $14 million - was warmly received when presented at a meeting of the Hawke's Bay Cultural Trust last night. The council and the trust have been working toward a new building for several years. The existing museum has one of the best collections of any regional museum in the country, but lacks the space to display and store it properly. The project depends on Napier City Council's getting substantial funding from central government, but if it goes ahead, the new Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery building would occupy a prominent site on the corner of Marine Pde and Tennyson St, going back to Herschell St.

Food price rises blamed on biofuels

New Zealand poultry producers are blaming biofuel production for looming rises in the price of eggs, poultry and meat. Biofuels have become a contentious matter, prompting United Nations official Jean Ziegler last week to label the converting of food crops to fuel as a crime against humanity. He has called for a five-year moratorium on biofuels. Poultry Meat Producers Society chairman Murray Smith says diminishing food production is driving up the price of grain, which is used for chicken feed. He says that inevitably means price rises for chicken and egg consumers. Lincoln University Professor of ecology Stephen Wratten says biofuel production from cereal crops is inefficient and does not justify an increase in maize production at the expense of food. Professor Wratten says New Zealand should not need to import key ingredients for biofuels.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand

Petrol prices on the rise again

By Edward Gay
BP this morning raised petrol prices by 5 cents a litre, taking unleaded 91 to 168.9 and diesel to 121.9. Automobile Association spokesman Mark Stockdale said BP was the first to make the move and it was unclear if other petrol companies would follow suit. "The Turkey - Iraq situation is having an effect on crude prices," Mr Stockdale said, referring to the massing of Turkish troops on the Iraqi boarder in retaliation for alleged raids by Kurdish troops.

Mobile dental clinic stolen

A mobile dental clinic has been stolen from a school on the Hauraki Plains. Police say someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to take the $320,000 vehicle. They say a truck would have been needed to tow the nine metre long clinic from Netherton School. Police are concerned about chemicals stored in the clinic, as well as more than 200 patient records.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Tui oil contributes to rising exports

The Tui oilfield is proving its worth, contributing to a $244 million rise in New Zealand exports of crude. Statistics New Zealand says crude oil was the commodity which showed the largest increase compared to the same month of the previous year. It puts this down to the start of production from the Tui field. All crude oil exports went to Australia in August but in September crude oil exports also went to Thailand and Singapore.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Irish praise NZ immigration model

The visiting Irish President says her country will look to New Zealand as a model for how to attract immigrants. Mary McAleese made the comments during a speech to dignitaries at Parliament this afternoon. She says with immigration starting to return to Ireland, the country wants to follow New Zealand's example of how to introduce multiculturalism.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

NZ soldiers hurt in Afghanistan

Two New Zealand soldiers have been taken to a medical centre after they were accidently injured in Afghanistan. The incident happened on the way back from a routine patrol between Bagram Air Force Base and Kabul. Army spokesman Captain Zac Prendergast says the soldiers are being treated at the base medical centre. He says a member of the patrol's Steyr assault rifles went off, leaving two soldiers with injuries to their limbs.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Disaster zone declared in NSW

An area of the New South Wales north coast damaged by storms has been declared a natural disaster zone. Large hailstones and destructive winds battered the towns of Dunoon, Lismore, Grafton, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby. The NSW government has estimated that the storms caused about A$1 million ($1.2 million) of damage.

Benefits of growing own vegetables rediscovered

By GILES BROWN - The Press
People are returning to their roots in Christchurch, with garden centres reporting an increase in the sale of seeds and plants to grow vegetables. They say the trend is due to a desire for better taste and healthier produce. Gayle Adams, a nursery supervisor at Country Gardens, said people bought more vegetable plants in the lead-up to Labour Day weekend, the traditional planting time. "Fruit trees need to be planted in the weeks leading up to Labour Day. After that, people will begin to plant tomatoes and beans. These kinds of plants are very popular, as are herbs and lettuces. People are also buying things like eggplants and peppers. "I think people grow their own because it tastes better. They know what it has been sprayed with, and where it has come from."

Hunt for Kiwi in $75b Brit scam case

By EMILY WATT - The Dominion Post
A New Zealander remains on the run after British police allegations that he is part of a counterfeiting gang that tried to con the Bank of England out of NZ$75 billion. Six people have been arrested. Their alleged Kiwi co-conspirator is believed to be in New Zealand. Six people, including an Australian, are now on trial in a British court. The Kiwi, identified as Brian Archer, is reportedly at large in New Zealand after English police busted the counterfeit gang.

Health on the pulpit for Pacific parishioners

Divine intervention could be the latest tool being employed to battle serious health problems amongst Pacific Island people. A new programme offering health advice and support through churches is being rolled out by the Auckland District Health Board. Pacific Health General Manager Aseta Redican says there is no denying the extent of the problem. She says many of Pacific people are obese, have diabetes, heart disease or other conditions. Ms Redican says with 80 percent attending church, there is a captive audience.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Small vineyard celebrates big success

A winemaker in from a small vineyard in Northland is celebrating winning the major award at the International chardonnay Challenge in Gisborne for the world's best chardonnay. Marsden Estate's 2006 Black Rocks Chardonnay headed off 450 entries from around the world to win the GisVin Champion Wine of Show. Chairman of judges Mike DeGaris says it is a standout wine that shows great complexity and varietal purity. The wine also won trophies for top oaked chardonnay and best North Island chardonnay. Marsden Estate winemaker Rod MacIvor is delighted about the award.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Irish president unveils plaque

An official welcome is being held at Parliament this morning for Irish President Mary McAleese as her week-long visit gets under way. The Defence Force's Maori Cultural Group will perform a traditional powhiri before President McAleese attends a wreath-lying ceremony at the National War Memorial and at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Buckle St, in Wellington. An official state luncheon in her honour will be held in Parliament's banquet Hall.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Bon Jovi tickets on sale

The first tickets go on sale today for the one-off New Zealand concert by super-group Bon Jovi. Public sales for the Christchurch gig do not start until Thursday, but Visa credit card holders could buy their tickets from 9am today and for the next two days. The concert on January 27 will promote the band's new album Lost Highway.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Rod Stewart announces NZ show

Rod Stewart is bringing his leathery larynx to Auckland for a concert in February. He's also expected to bring his wife Penny Lancaster and their new baby boy Alistair. Stewart says he fondly remembers the trips to New Zealand he made with his Kiwi-born ex, model Rachel Hunter. "We used to have some good times down there, visiting all the relatives and so on," he told Sunday Star-Times music writer Grant Smithies. Rod Stewart plays Auckland's Vector Arena on Monday, February 18. Tickets on sale from November 8 via Ticketmaster.
source:Sunday Star Times

Patients will be tested

All new patients entering Auckland Hospital will have to be tested to see if they are carrying a rare superbug. So far 33 patients have tested positive for vancomycin-resistant enterococci and three patients have been infected. Intensive cleaning of the entire hospital has been underway over the last two months and finishes today. Chief Medical Officer Dr David Sage says hospital staff will keep a close eye on the situation from now on. He says patients will be tested as they are admitted to the hospital for the next two to four months.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Tropical forest for Dunedin

The Otago Museum reveals a hot new attraction next Saturday. Traditionally Dunedin is not known for its tropical climate; however one area of the city will always be at 30 degrees. The museum will open its Tropical Forest, which will feature more than 1,000 imported butterflies, tarantula spiders, and many tropical plants. A spokesman describes the new exhibit as a three-level fully interactive experience.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

NZ troops return home from Afghanistan

After a summer in Afghanistan 61 New Zealand troops return to New Zealand today, for Christmas with their families. The Kiwis conducted building, road construction and education projects. They also found and destroyed three arms caches totalling more than six tonnes in a remote village. Captain Zac Prendegast says some of the work the Kiwis are doing may seem basic, but can have a huge impact on the ground.
Copyright © TVWorks Limited

Woman dies after overseas surgery

A Wellington woman is dead after travelling to Malaysia for cosmetic surgery. The Sunday Star Times today reported the 42-year-old woman travelled to Kuala Lumpur in June for a lapband operation through Australian company Gorgeous Getaways, which sells cosmetic surgery tours. The surgery involves a silicone band being placed around the upper stomach to make patients feel fuller and therefore eat less. The woman apparently had the surgery, then went to a resort on Kuantan island to recuperate. She collapsed and died at the resort. The woman died of hypoglaecemia, according to a pathology report, the newspaper said. Her family wanted a New Zealand coroner to look into the case but had been constrained by a lack of documentation.
Source:NZPA

Biofuels labelled crime against humanity by UN expert

The growing use of crops to produce biofuels as a replacement for petrol is a crime against humanity because it will result in more hunger, says a United Nations expert. UN special rapporteur Jean Ziegler says there has been an ill-conceived dash to convert foodstuffs such as maize and sugar into fuel. The growth in the production of biofuels has helped to push the price of some crops to record levels. Mr Ziegler says has called for a five-year ban on the practice. He says technological advances within that time will enable the use of agricultural waste, rather than crops themselves, to produce fuel.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand

Japanese chain's closure hurts New Zealand teachers

The New Zealand embassy in Japan says hundreds of New Zealanders have been caught out by the closure of the country's biggest English language school chain. Thousands of foreign teachers have been made jobless and face expulsion from Japan after the Nova English language schools folded. The embassy says it has received a steady flow of calls from New Zealand teachers starting to experience financial problems. Many of the workers have not been paid for months as the company struggled to stay afloat. The embassy says Nova had employed 200 New Zealanders. It is advising those in financial difficulties to contact the company's regional offices, or seek assistance from their bank, insurance company, family or friends.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand

Money machines go Maori

By ROB STOCK - Sunday Star Times
Te Reo speakers are finally getting recognition from the banking system, with the Bank of New Zealand making the Maori language one of eight options available for ATM users. By the end of the month all of the bank's 420 ATMs will ask card users to choose a language preference: English, Maori, Japanese, German, Korean, French, or one of two versions of Chinese simplified or traditional. Once they have chosen, all their future transactions will automatically be conducted in the selected language. It will not be only BNZ card users able to select a language preference. The language choice of card holders from other banks will also be stored, and each time they use their card at a BNZ machine their preferred language will pop up.

Irish President on State visit to New Zealand

Irelands President Mary McAleese will depart this evening on a six-day State Visit to New Zealand, visiting Wellington, Dunedin, Queenstown and Auckland. This is the second visit by President McAleese to New Zealand, having previously travelled to the country for a State Visit in September 1998. While in Dunedin the President will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Laws at the University of Otago; the first Irish person to receive such an honour.

A right royal bird rescue

A giant sea bird that washed ashore on an Auckland beach after being battered by southern storms last week, is now recovering at a bird rescue centre. It is a Royal Albatross, one of the biggest sea birds in the world, with a wingspan of three metres. But even his giant wings were not enough to prevent him being blown off course in the recent southern storms. The battered bird was washed ashore at Muriwai beach, west of Auckland, a favourite nesting ground and fishing spot for sea birds. He was found by two men who took him to bird rescue. At bird rescue they are feeding the albatross on fish, his favourite food, and he is gradually regaining his strength.
Copyright © TVWorks Limited

Walking track renamed

The country's most popular one day walking track has been renamed in a bid to save lives and improve safety. The Department of Conservation and the tourism industry decided to change the the track's name to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing because of the number of people underestimating the tough terrain. They hope it will give trampers a better indication of the level of experience and equipment they need to do the walk.
Source:One News

Kiwi-made for Christmas

Two months out from Santa's impending arrival, we are being urged to think Kiwi-made when we finally start Christmas shopping. The Government's rebranded and relaunched the Buy Kiwi Made campaign this year. Government spokesperson for the campaign, Sue Bradford, says the number of businesses who have signed up to the campaign has jumped to 800. She says it is encouraging to see more and more manufacturers labelling their products as New Zealand made.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Tourist rescued thanks to her flute

French tourist Aurelie Rosset has her flute to thank for her rescue after getting lost in bush in Taranaki. Ms Rosset, 28 lost her way after going for a walk in dense bush, on the boundary of Egmont National Park near New Plymouth on Thursday night. When darkness fell she called police on her cellphone. She remained in constant contact with police throughout their search and when they approached the bush she started to play her small flute. "I play the ocarina and the police find me," she said after her rescue.
NZPA

4 survive plane crash

Four people have survived a plane crash near Ohakune this morning. The Cessna 185 crashed just after 11.30 at the Tangahoe Station airstrip near the Whanganui River, west of Ohakune. All four survivors were injured, with deep lacerations and head gashes. They are now being treated in Waikato Hospital, to where they were airlifted. Yesterday afternoon, a teenager survived a crash landing in the Urewera Ranges. The plane came down during the return leg of a cross-country flight from Tauranga to Waikaremoana last night. Twenty-two-year-old instructor Aleisha O'Reilly was killed but 18-year-old student pilot Chris Slee managed to walk to a marae to raise the alarm. He suffered chest injuries and may have a fractured lower leg.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Kiwi boffins lead undersea investigation

New Zealand scientists are leading the first systematic investigation of submarine volcanoes in the Mediterranean. The five New Zealanders, from GNS Science, will join American and Italian scientists for the 12-day expedition, beginning next week. They will explore a chain of submarine volcanoes north of Sicily, known as the Aeolian Arc. The Italian Government is funding the project and supplying Italy's premier research ship, the RV Urania. The aim is to identify submarine volcanic and hydrothermal vent targets for biological, geophysical and geological research.
©2007, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Zaoui family together again

The family of Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui have joined him in New Zealand. His wife Leila Tidjani and four sons flew into the country from Malaysia yesterday. It is five years since the family last saw each other. Mr Zaoui crossed the final hurdle to remaining in the country just last month, when SIS officials lifted the security risk certificate against him. His lawyer and long-time supporter Deborah Manning says Mr Zaoui was overjoyed to see his family for the first time in five years. Ms Manning says the family will now go through a six-week orientation programme for refugees. Mr Zaoui, who stood for the Islamic Front for Salvation, fled Algeria when a military coup took place in 1991. In New Zealand, he has been living with the Dominican friars in the Auckland suburb of Newton.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Bill for oil spill around $40,000

Teams of council workers expect to complete their efforts to clean up an oil spill along the Taranaki coastline today. More than six cubic metres of sand has already been removed from a 10 kilometre stretch of coast, west and south of Okato. The washed up crude is being compared with samples from the Tui field, in an effort to establish the source of the spill. The Taranaki Regional Council estimates the clean up has cost $40,000.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Fiji slips on freedom list

Fiji has slipped in its ratings by more than half on the Worldwide Press Freedom Index to 107 from its 53rd place last year, reports The Fiji Times. In a statement issued by Reporters Without Borders last week, Fiji was at the bottom of the list of countries that have upheld media freedom practices. The index ranked Fiji 107th of the 169 countries for the year. The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party (SDL) said this was no surprise given the restrictions imposed by the military regime when they took over the country in December last year.
Copyright © 2007 Islands Business International

Snell scholarship gold

Olympic athletics legend Peter Snell has presented the first Peter Snell doctoral scholarships in public health and exercise science. The scholarships – to Meihana Durie and Jackson Green – were presented by Dr Snell in Wellington yesterday. Dr Snell, a triple Olympic gold medallist, works at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in the United States. His research focus is on the interaction between physical activity, body composition and health status. Mr Durie and Mr Green will spend time in Dr Snell's laboratory in Texas, and bring back to New Zealand knowledge of the exercise science and techniques he has developed. Massey University's Steve Stannard said the scholarships supported research aimed at keeping New Zealanders healthy. They covered doctoral fees and provided a grant of $25,000 for each recipient.
Source:NZPA

Indian business officials denied visas

The government has launched an investigation into why 20 business officials from India have been denied visas to come to New Zealand. The group is part of a 30-strong delegation, but officials in New Delhi refused to issue visas. National fears the decision could impact on New Zealand's relationship with India.
Trade Minister Phil Goff has discussed the situation with Immigration Minister David Cunliffe, who has asked for an inquiry. He says until an investigation is completed, it would be premature to reach any conclusions about why the visas were denied. The Indian government is aware of the visa rejections, but has not approached the New Zealand government about the case.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Security upgrade for Parliament

Parliament's security system has had a multi-million dollar upgrade. Speaker Margaret Wilson has opened a new security control room in the complex. The facility, which is described as state of the art, cost $2.75 million and involves the replacement of old security cameras and adds extra surveillance to strategic areas. Parliament Buildings currently have 108 video security cameras, 294 security doors, 1,820 alarms and 1,425 fire alarms.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

More troops East Timor-bound

Thirty-two Air Force personnel and two Iroquois aircraft have left for a three month deployment to East Timor. The troops will be working alongside the Australian Defence Force and 150 New Zealand infantry and military observers. Most of those who left today are from Three Squadron, based at Ohakea.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Hear Dame Kiri for free

A rare chance for New Zealanders to hear Dame Kiri Te Kanawa for free. The opera diva will appear for a special performance at Skycity's Starlight Symphony in the Auckland domain in February. Dame Kiri says it will be her first performance in the domain since 1996 and she is excited about being a part of it.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Massive public park created near Ashburton

The Government has released details of the largest public park created in more than 20 years. The new Hakatere Conservation Park is more than 68,000 hectares and is situated in the Ashburton Lakes area. Conservation Minister Chris Carter says the area includes mountains, a ski field and lakes. He says the public will have access to pastoral lease areas of Hakatere Station, which the Nature Heritage Fund paid 7.2 million dollars for, when settlement takes place next month.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Labour gains in latest poll

Labour has clawed back vital ground from National in the latest political poll out today. The New Zealand Morgan Poll puts Labour on 39 per cent, up six points from its last poll just over a fortnight ago. Support for National fell three points to 45.5 per cent. The result was Labour's highest in the poll since February and National's lowest since April. It cements a trend in several recent polls of growing support for Labour despite National still holding a clear lead. The poll puts the Green Party down 2 per cent to 7.5 per cent support, New Zealand First remained unchanged on 3 per cent, the Maori Party down slightly on 2 per cent, United Future steady on 1.5 per cent and ACT on 0.5 per cent.
Source:NZPA

Millions poured into airport for (Rugby) World Cup

By KIM RUSCOE - Fairfax Media
A $180 million upgrade of Auckland's international airport is to be fast-tracked to coincide with the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The much awaited upgrade includes a bigger terminal, more shops, faster arrivals procedures and a new access pier that showcases New Zealand and has stunning views of Manukau Harbour. Auckland Airport chief executive Don Huse said the planned expansion had been brought forward by 18 months so it would be completed in in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Peak queue times would be greatly reduced, while border protection services would offer a more welcoming experience in a more spacious environment on a newly developed first floor.

Maori unemployment at '20-year low'

The unemployment rate for Maori is at its lowest in more than 20 years, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia says. "This means the gap between Maori and non-Maori unemployment and participation rates has continued to narrow over the past year, which is great news," Mr Horomia said. "Improved employment outcomes for Maori are crucial to ensuring increased opportunities and choices for our whanau and have been a key driver of the Labour-led government." A report released by the Labour Department shows half the growth in employment over the past year was accounted for by Maori.
Source:NZPA

Navy launches new vessel

By ERIN PARKE - Stuff.co.nz
Wellington takes to the seas tomorrow - in the form of an 85 metre-long patrol vessel being launched by the Royal New Zealand Navy. The Wellington is the third ship to be built as part of Project Protect, the government's $500 million upgrade of the Defence Force. Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias will launch the vessel in Williamstown, Melbourne on what Defence Minister Phil Goff called a "happy day for New Zealand". The Wellington will join sister ship Otago in patrolling the country's Economic Exclusion Zone, with a focus on border patrol, counter-terrorism missions and enhancing New Zealand?s presence in the Pacific.

Hospice gets generous gift

A house worth $600,000 and built entirely by voluntary donations will be handed over to the Hibiscus Coast Hospice in Orewa north of Auckland today. Hospice chairman Howard Jury says it is one of the most generous donations the organisation has ever received. He says what makes it so special is the huge number of companies and local people who donated their time, labour and products.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Climate change bus hitting the road

Greenpeace and other environmental watchdogs have banded together to encourage people to tackle climate change. A biodiesel-fuelled bus will travel the country, offering advice on everything from composting to energy saving. Greenpeace chief director Bunny McDiarmid says the government has been weak in its response to climate change. The 'be-the-change' campaign kicks off outside the Auckland Museum this afternoon.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

French block toi moko's return

The Maori Party is seeking action over a mummified Maori head being held in France. The head was supposed to be sent to Te Papa in Wellington but the French Minister of Culture has moved to block the return of the head, claiming it is now part of French heritage. The dispute is to be the subject of a court battle between local officials who had agreed to the return of the head, and the French national government. Maori Party Co-Leader Pita Sharples is asking what the Associate Arts Culture and Heritage Minister, Judith Tizard, is doing to solve the situation.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Tokelau to stay NZ dependency

By MICHAEL FIELD in Tokelau - Fairfax Media
New Zealand's small central Pacific colony of Tokelau has rejected self-government. After a week long ballot on the three atolls a majority of voters supported self-government, but not enough to carry it. In results just announced, the Ulu or head of Tokelau, Kuresa Nasau, announced that of the 697 votes counted, 64.4 percent favoured self-government. The Tokelauans in the United nations supervised referendum, had set a 66 percent requirement. In the last referendum last year 60 percent approved of self-government. Tokelau is not expected to hold another referendum inside five years.

Oil cleanup off Taranaki coast

Council staff are cleaning up balls of tar which have washed up on a stretch of beach on the Taranaki coast. The degraded oil has washed onto about ten kilometres of the coastline west and south of Okato. It was first spotted on Tuesday night after a strong south-west wind, and some surfers have reported seeing an oil slick offshore.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Drink driver delivers herself to police

A Greymouth woman who drove herself to the police station to get a ride home because she was too drunk to drive, had her licence automatically suspended last night. Sergeant Dave Cross said the woman was apprehended right outside the police station. "She was breath tested and subsequently processed for driving with an excess breath alcohol." Because the woman's reading was twice the legal limit - 850mg- her licence was automatically suspended. The 46-year-old was later given a ride home by police.
NZPA

Foreign student numbers on the rise

By REBECCA TODD - The Press
New Zealand's $2 billion-a-year international education sector is in good heart after years of uncertainty. The latest figures from Education New Zealand show numbers of international students are on the rise after major dips since a peak in 2002. The ability to attract students from countries other than China – including Europe, South America and the Middle East – has helped stabilise the industry. The number of students from Saudi Arabia has leapt from none in 1999 to about 300 last year, while for India, it surged from 87 to 1721.

Clark appeal fails as Saudi man executed

Saudi Arabian authorities have confirmed a man Prime Minister Helen Clark had made an urgent appeal to save from execution had been beheaded. Hadi 'Ali Suliaman, whose brother lives in New Zealand, was executed in the southern city of Najran, according to an interior Ministry statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Hadi 'Ali Suliaman was convicted of injuring a guard when he opened fire on a truck carrying prisoners, the ministry said. SPA said he was trying to help a prisoner escape from the truck when he shot the security guard. It was not clear when the attack took place and whether the prisoner managed to escape. The man's brother, Meshal 'Ali Suliaman, had called on the New Zealand Government to take action to prevent the execution.
Source:NZPA

Fisherman survives stingray attack

A New Zealand fisherman is lucky to be alive after the barb of a stingray severed his artery.
Gavin Scoles, 43, was in excruciating pain and lost almost a quarter of his blood but is recovering in Auckland Hospital after surgery to clean the wound, the New Zealand Herald reported. The barb from the stingray pierced his leg. Australian adventurer Steve Irwin died just over a year ago when the barb from a stingray pierced his chest when he was snorkelling off Queensland. Mr Scoles was fishing off Mercury Island yesterday with two others on his boat when a stingray became tangled in a net. Mr Scoles was holding the net between his legs, trying to shake the stingray free, when he was struck.
Source:NZPA

Wellington's last child cancer doc quits

By COLIN PATTERSON and OSKAR ALLEY - The Dominion Post
The resignation of the sole remaining child cancer specialist at Wellington Hospital has plunged its service into fresh crisis. Anne Mitchell, who parents say was under extreme pressure from working alone since her colleague Liz Hesketh left in July, resigned yesterday and will finish at the end of January. Her resignation comes just three weeks after the hospital's paediatric oncology service - which provides care for child cancer victims throughout the southern half of the North Island - was thrown a lifeline, with Capital and Coast Health deciding it would approach its Canterbury counterpart seeking an alliance to share child cancer services. Parents of child cancer patients are furious at Capital and Coast, saying officials appear unwilling to commit to providing a crucial health service.

Wellington's last child cancer doc quits

By COLIN PATTERSON and OSKAR ALLEY - The Dominion Post
The resignation of the sole remaining child cancer specialist at Wellington Hospital has plunged its service into fresh crisis. Anne Mitchell, who parents say was under extreme pressure from working alone since her colleague Liz Hesketh left in July, resigned yesterday and will finish at the end of January. Her resignation comes just three weeks after the hospital's paediatric oncology service - which provides care for child cancer victims throughout the southern half of the North Island - was thrown a lifeline, with Capital and Coast Health deciding it would approach its Canterbury counterpart seeking an alliance to share child cancer services. Parents of child cancer patients are furious at Capital and Coast, saying officials appear unwilling to commit to providing a crucial health service.

No holiday for child support defaulters

The National Party is demanding tighter controls at the borders to stop child support defaulters from leaving the country. Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins says child support debt totals almost $1.2 billion dollars and she wants a collection system set up at international airports, to stop debtors from skipping the country. "I have so many women who contact me and say they're looking after three or four children and their husband has gone off and now doesn't want to have anything to do with them. But what about the parent who does have the children and is trying to make ends meet?" Ms Collins says the government claims it is concerned about the issue but is refusing to do anything to catch people at the border who owe child support
© 2007 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Elderly men not looking after themselves

A Massey University nutritionist is concerned that elderly men whose wives have died are failing to look after themselves. Jennifer Bowden monitored 12 men over the age of 70 to see if they were coping with basic cooking as poor nutrition knowledge and limited cooking skills are thought to be causing health problems. She says when men are on their own, they have no interest in cooking. Ms Bowden says unfortunately the daily bombardment of dietary information is largely ignored. She says as New Zealand's ageing population increases, it is even more important to ensure older men are encouraged to eat well.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Three quakes rock NZ

There has been a series of small earthquakes throughout the country this morning. The first struck at 12.09am, 60km west of Milford at a depth of 20km and measured 4.5 on the Richter scale. It was followed by a magnitude four quake at 1.02am centred 10km south-east of Pahiatua, at a depth of 50 metres. The third earthquake at 2.19am measured 3.7 and was centred 40km south-west of New Plymouth at a depth of 10km.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Quarantine for NZ horses after Melbourne Cup

New Zealand horses competing in next month's Melbourne Cup will be put into quarantine before being allowed to return home, despite the fact the state of Victoria is so far free of the equine influenza outbreak. The virus has prevented racing through most of New South Wales and Queensland and horse owners affected by the problem have been offered relief through a $110 million federal government package. New Zealand Racing Board Chief Executive Graeme Hansen says the Australian government will also vaccinate every horse competing in the cup. He says the virus would have devastating effects if it reached New Zealand.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Henare won't repeat inflammatory comment

Tau Henare is refusing to divulge the comment he made to Trevor Mallard which sparked a brawl between the two MPs. The National MP has accepted the Cabinet Minister's apology, after Mr Mallard punched Mr Henare on the jaw outside the debating chamber. It is understood the scuffle erupted following comments made about Mr Mallard's personal life, and recent break-up of his marriage. Mr Henare says it is unacceptable to be hauled out and given a punch. The Prime Minister has suggested each man needs to take a hard look at himself, and think deeply about his behaviour
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Student asks NZ Govt to try to save brother in Saudi Arabia

A Saudi Arabian man studying medicine in Auckland is calling on the New Zealand Government to try to stop the execution of his brother. Amnesty International says it has learnt that Hadi 'Ali Suliaman is due to be executed in Saudi Arabia at 6pm Wednesday. It says he was convicted for helping a man escape from prison. His brother, Meshal 'Ali Suliaman, says he wants the Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, to contact Saudi Arabia to try to stop the execution. Amnesty International says the Government has signed a global moratorium on the death penalty and should intervene.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand

Wellington Zoo welcomes new chimpanzee

A baby chimpanzee has been born at Wellington Zoo - one week earlier than expected. Husbandry manager Suzette Nicholson said Sally gave birth to the baby about 6am on Monday. Both mother and baby appeared to be doing well, she said. The new arrival brought the number of chimpanzees at the zoo to 13.
Chimpanzees are endangered.
Source:NZPA

'Gift' signals return of te reo

The 2007 Social Report released last week shows Maori adults able to speak te reo Maori "well" or "very well" has increased from 9 per cent in 2001 to 14 per cent in 2006. Rebecca Todd reports on initiatives to keep the momentum. The number of Maori fluent in te reo declined rapidly with the urbanisation of Maori in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1973, just 18 per cent of the population were fluent speakers. This rose to 25 per cent in 1996 and stayed steady until 2001. In the 2006 census, 24 per cent of Maori said they could hold a conversation in Maori about everyday things. Of the 157,100 people in total who could speak the language, 84 per cent were of Maori descent.
Source:The Press

Wine awards turn sour

The Hawke's Bay A&P Society has been left red faced after it discovered the wrong wine was announced as winner of the Hawke's Bay Wine Awards. CEO Michael Pyatt says the second botch up occurred when the numbers labeling the wines were accidentally switched by the competition director. He says numbers must be used so judges can remain independent. Mr Pyatt says the judges became aware of the mistake when a white wine was announced as the winner, not a red. The Vidal Reserve Syrah 2005 has now been announced as the official winner. Mr Pyatt says the Society is dreadfully embarrassed by the mistake
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

NZ population set to pop?

Statistics New Zealand estimates the nation will top five million people sometime in the 2020's. However, based on the latest population projections it is unlikely there will ever be six million New Zealanders. Government statistician Geoff Bascand says an ageing population will means after that the growth rate will slow. He says the number of births is likely to remain steady at about 60,000 a year, but by 2061, there will be about 62,000 deaths a year.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

YouTube launching NZ version

A New Zealand version of the popular video sharing website YouTube is being launched today. It will feature a localised homepage and search functions. Members of the VIP online community have been invited to the launch of the website in Auckland this afternoon. YouTube's owner, Google is keeping the details under wraps but it is expected the New Zealand version will be run from a local server, giving users faster download speeds. The site is likely to feature local search options, giving wannabe Kiwi web stars a better chance of being discovered.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

DHB owed thousands by non-residents

The Canterbury District Health Board is owed more than $100,000 by non-New Zealand residents who have given birth at its facilities. Almost 30 women not eligible for public health care in New Zealand have given birth in Canterbury hospitals in the past year. The CDHB says there were 27 non-eligible deliveries between July 2006 and August 2007. Nineteen non-eligible women who had used hospital birthing facilities still owe money. In all, the health board is owed $111,000.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

"Virgin Mary" pebble for sale on Trade Me

There is skepticism on Trade Me as a Christchurch woman tries to sell a pebble she believes carries the image of the Virgin Mary. Lisa-Marie Corlet claims the pebble she found on a South Island beach is the real deal. It has what looks like a water mark, which could be interpreted to represent the shape of the Mother of Christ. The item has a buy-now price of $50,000. The highest bid was last at $2,000.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Push to keep international students in NZ

The Government is relaxing visa rules for international students, in a bid to keep more in New Zealand. The policy changes will allow foreign students to stay for up to 12 months to find work once they have graduated, an increase from the current six months. Another change will allow students to sit their English-language test at anytime during their stay, rather than as soon as they arrive. There are currently 93,000 international students living in New Zealand, on average 27 percent stay once they have graduated.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Manawatu cancer patients offered treatment elsewhere

Cancer patients in the Manawatu are being offered treatment in Australia and Hamilton due to waiting list delays. The MidCentral District Health Board says breast and prostate cancer patients can go to Melbourne for radiation treatment. It says people with breast cancer will also be offered treatment in Hamilton. The DHB says the waiting list has been growing for some months, due to staff issues and more complex cases which require more planning and extra treatments.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand

Dairy farm sold for a record $29.3m

By SUSIE NORDQVIST - The Southland Times
A Southland dairy farm has sold for a record $29.3 million, to the daughter of former Te Wananga o Aotearoa chief executive Rongo Wetere. The deal comes as the median price paid for a dairy farm in New Zealand tops the $3 million mark, on the back of expected record dairy payouts. Susan Cullen, who in 2005 estimated her personal fortune to be $30 million, will take over the 490 hectare farm with her husband Brett next week. The property, which is in two titles, is situated 8km from Edendale on Tramway Rd East, in Menzies Ferry, and boasts five homes, and more than $4 million worth of plant and stock, which are included in the purchase price.

Smoke, ash as inferno closes in on NZ woman

By JO MCKENZIE-MCLEAN - The Press
The stench of smoke and layers of ash signal the fires are closing in on a Christchurch woman trapped in the fires sweeping across California. Rose Anderson, 22, spoke to The Press last night from a student housing complex where she lives with her boyfriend in La Jolla, San Diego, where they have been placed on standby for evacuation. "At the moment we are about 5km from the burning evacuation area and about 10km to 15km from the fire itself," she said. "The main fire we are worried about is coming from the north, but it could come around from the east. There is also fire coming from the south via the boarder with Mexico, so basically we are trapped. "To the west is the ocean ... that's where people will probably head." Anderson has been in La Jolla for a month after travelling overseas. She graduated from Canterbury University, majoring in geology, last year.

Sedition laws almost on the way out

Moves to do away with sedition laws have just one hurdle left to clear. The Repeal of Seditious Offences Bill passed its committee stage in Parliament last night and now awaits just a third and final reading before it becomes law. Justice Minister Mark Burton says seditious offences can be covered by other pieces of legislation. He says the sedition laws have rarely been used since the 1920s and New Zealand is now operating in very different times.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Clark says more MPs to go

Prime Minister Helen Clark today said the public can expect more Labour MPs to announce they will be quitting politics before the next election. Miss Clark has often stated that a "rejuvenated" Labour caucus would face the 2008 election. She is also expected to shake things up with a Cabinet reshuffle next week. On Friday frontbencher Steve Maharey announced he would be leaving for a job at Massey University and not seeking Cabinet positions in the interim. "I think people are well aware that there's a lot of change coming in the Labour caucus, a number of MPs gone this term already, others have signalled that they will be going by the end of the term and others will be progressively signalling they don't intend to run again," Miss Clark told reporters this morning. "So there's going to be a lot of change and renewal and that's a good thing."
Copyright © TVWorks Limited

Hopes new rules will make Guy Fawkes safer

Government agencies are hoping tighter rules surrounding fireworks will mean less stupidity this Guy Fawke's day. This year fireworks will be on sale only from November 2 to 5 and only to adults. Until this year fireworks were on sale for 10 days and anybody aged 14 or over could buy them. New controls on the sale of sparklers are also being introduced to avoid people buying in bulk and potentially making a dangerous 'sparkler bomb'.
Source:NZPA

Overnight power outage for the south

Wild weather has caused widespread damage to the power network in Southland and Otago. In the region, 2,500 PowerNet customers have been left without electricity. The company says line crews are working to restore supply as quickly and safely as possible. It says because most of the repair work will not be completed today, customers should make arrangements to be without power overnight. Southland and Otago are being warned to prepare for more gale force winds tomorrow, after being thrashed earlier today and left with downed trees and smashed windows to clear away. Fire crews in Southland responded to 205 damaged properties, while a Bluff fire officer was taken to hospital after falling through a roof. MetService has issued a severe weather watch for the southern coast tomorrow.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Woman dies and smothers baby

Police say the death of a mother and her child near Christchurch is a "tragic and freak accident". Sergeant Danny Harker says police were called to an address in Lincoln at about 8am yesterday, where the death of a 36-year-old woman and her 10-month-old baby had been reported. Mr Harker says a post-mortem examination today revealed the woman, Irene Skurr, died of deep vein thrombosis. He says it appears she was feeding her baby son, Cameron McDrury, when she died and accidentally smothered him. Mr Harker says there are no suspicious circumstances and the freak accident has traumatised the family.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Super Fund's tobacco shares stubbed out

Tobacco is now off the list of investments for the New Zealand Super Fund. The fund's Guardians have announced they are selling the $37.6 million worth of shares they currently hold in tobacco stocks. The shareholding is a shade under point-three percent of the fund's total assets. Guardians' chief executive Adrian Orr says the fund has decided investing in tobacco breaches responsible investment standards.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Support for liquor store sanctions

There is strong support for government proposals to implement a "three strikes" regime for the managers of liquor stores. Under the proposed new law, any manager of a liquor outlet who is convicted of selling alcohol to minors on three occasions will have his or her manager's licence cancelled for five years.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Farmers urged to check fields after distress reports

Farmers are being urged to check their properties after reports of a flare or light plane in trouble over the Hamilton area last night. "Reports vary from a flare to a light aircraft trailing flames disappearing into heavy cloud, reported over Temple View, Ruakura and Eureka," said Senior Sergeant Marcus Lynam. "There were no reports of aircraft overdue or any emergency beacons being activated and the Civil Aviation Authority closed the file last night but we're asking farmers, as a precaution, to notify police of anything unusual," he said.
Source:NZPA

University treasures returned in good condition

Three valuable pieces stolen from Auckland University last Christmas are in good condition, despite their ten month absence. A Goldie painting, Colin McCahon poems and Oxford bible were returned after police arranged for minor charges to be dropped against a man who negotiated their return. Auckland University says the bible suffered some damage and will be repaired before being put back on display. It says it has boosted security for all its significant art works and valuable items since the theft.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Oil company wants to explore off West Coast

NZX-listed company Widespread Energy is applying for a petroleum exploration permit for an area off the West Coast. The company wants to explore more than 3,000 square kilometres between Hokitika and Punakaiki. A permit is not expected to be granted for another three to six months.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

French to send home head of warrior

By Catherine Field
France is to give back to New Zealand the tattooed, mummified head of a Maori warrior in a gesture of spiritual healing and repugnance at the colonial-era trade in human artefacts. The "toi moko" is believed to date from before the colonisation of New Zealand but ended up in France thanks to trafficking in human curios, say French researchers. Under old Maori traditions, a warrior who fell in combat was decapitated and the head preserved and kept in a place devoted to his memory until the time was judged right for its burial. New Zealand began seeking the return of Maori remains in 1992. More than 30 institutions around the world have agreed to return such remains, including the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, which in March said it would repatriate at least 14 Maori. New Zealand began seeking the return of Maori remains in 1992. More than 30 institutions around the world have agreed to return such remains, including the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, which in March said it would repatriate at least 14 Maori.
©2007, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Success for kiwi breeding programme

By WARREN GAMBLE - The Press
Rare kiwi chicks are hatching in record numbers at Christchurch's Willowbank Wildlife Reserve as the national breeding programme nears a landmark 1000 chicks. Ten kiwi have hatched so far under the Operation Nest Egg programme this breeding season, which runs from June to February. Another 13 eggs are incubating and staff are confident they will at least double the 16 kiwis hatched last season. Willowbank native section manager Ami Brown said the kiwi chicks belonged to the rarest Okarito brown, known as rowi, and Haast toeka species. There are only about 250 rowi and 300 Haast toeka kiwi in isolated ranges in south Westland.

Weather battering expected tomorrow

Parts of the country could be in for the worst battering of spring so far, with severe and damaging gales forecast for tomorrow. The MetService has issued a severe weather warning as a low deepens in the Tasman Sea and moves on to the South Island. The weather system will bring a short and intense period of rain along the west coast from northwest Nelson to Fiordland tomorrow morning. Trampers are warned to watch for rapidly rising rivers. Meanwhile, severe northwest gales are expected to rapidly develop from Hawkes Bay to inland Canterbury in the early hours, reaching up to 130kmh. Later in the morning severe west to southwest gales are expected to batter many parts of Southland and eastern Otago, gusting up to 140kmh.
Source:NZPA

Rangitoto school band top winner

A Rangitoto college band, called Solomon, has outplayed 650 others to take out top honours in this year's SmokeFreeRockQuest. The group also took out the award for best song. The school band competition - now in its 18th year - has been the launch pad for big names including Evermore and Anika Moa. The band's overall prize package includes $10,000 to spend on band equipment, and there is a New Zealand On Air recording grant.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Holiday traffic queues up to 15km-long

Drivers returning to the main centres were battling long queues at the end of the Labour Weekend holiday this afternoon. The traditional bottlenecks are the worst affected with a tail 15 kilometres long reported heading to Auckland along the highway from Windy Ridge to Orewa. And Aucklanders heading back home from the Coromandel are causing a 7 kilometre traffic back-log near Thames. Traffic heading back into Wellington on State Highway One is already beginning to back up. Police say there is a major traffic jam going into Otaki heading south.
NEWSTALK ZB, NZ HERALD STAFF

NZ pilot found in crashed plane named

A New Zealand pilot whose plane crashed in a remote part of the West Australian goldfields has been named by police. Officers found the body of a pilot believed to be New Zealander Christopher John Douglas, 25, amid the wreckage of a Cessna, 400km north-northeast of Kalgoorlie, after it crashed on a parcel run. A search began for the lone pilot after he failed to arrive in Kalgoorlie after leaving Warburton on a freight run on October 18.

Dolphins proving to be valuable asset for NZ

New Zealand's dolphins earned more than $24 million for the country last year, and their true economic value could be much higher, Ministry of Tourism figures showed today. Dolphin swimming and watching tours directly brought in an estimated $24.6m to the New Zealand economy in the year ended December 2006, WWF NZ, which sourced data from the ministry, said today. About 103,000 people reported taking part in dolphin watching or swimming in 2006.
Source:NZPA

Bradford wants 35 hour working week

As we celebrate Labour Day, the Green Party says a taskforce should be established to investigate the economic and social effects of a 35 hour working week. The Greens say despite the successful campaign for a 40 hour working week over a century ago, many Kiwis are now working much longer than that. Green MP Sue Bradford says she wants to reverse the trend of New Zealand's long hard working hours and honour the campaign by working people for a 40 hour working week, or perhaps less.
© - TVWorks Limited

Aussie study rejected by NZ obesity campaigners

There is surprise among anti-obesity campaigners following the release of a study by a leading Australian nutritionist . Jenny O'Dea from Sydney University is claiming the epidemic among children is been grossly overstated. She says the problem is concentrated among poorer families in certain ethnic groups. The Australian study of health, fitness and fatness involved eight thousand 500 children aged six to 18, and is the first of its kind to measure social class and ethnicity. Dr O'Dea says the child obesity rate isn't rocketing out of control and appears to be leveling off. However, Fight Against the Obesity Epidemic spokeswoman Robyn Toomath says it is crazy to say the disease is limited to certain ethnic groups.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

New Zealand warship visits south China harbour

A New Zealand frigate arrived at Zhanjiang military harbor in south China's Guangdong Province on Friday on a three-day visit. Headed by Commodore David Anson, the frigate Te Kaha of the New Zealand navy has 28 officers and 148 soldiers and is on its first visit to the port. During their stay, the crew and officers will participate in soccer and basketball games with their Chinese counterparts. The two sides will hold meetings and visit each other's warships as well. The Te Kaha missile frigate belongs to Anzac class which was made in Australia.
Xinhua News Agency

Severe weather warning issued

A severe weather warning has been issued for Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and the Manawatu. MetService says westerlies will rise to gales between Hastings and Paihiatua on Sunday night. Gusts could reach 120km per hour at times. The bad weather could last until Monday morning, and damage to trees, utility lines and insecure roofs. Driving conditions could also be hazardous for high sided vehicles and motorcyclists.
Source:One News

Pope's house in NZ up for sale

It has been over 20 years since Pope John Paul 2 visited New Zealand but an unusual piece of Pope memorabilia has just come up for sale. The Kitset House the Pontiff used during his short stay in NZ has been home for the past nine years to a Howick family and they say its been specially blessed. Back in 1986, the three bedroom house was the base for the Pope during his flying visit to Auckland but today its the home base for Ray and Dianne and their two children, but not for much longer as the house is now for sale.
Source:One News

Exhibit on Pacific people in NZ opens

Ukelele's, Lavalavas and Jandles were out in full force at Te Papa in Wellington on Saturday for a new exhibition called Tangata O Le Moana. It tells the story of Pacific people in New Zealand. It has been officially opened after five years in the making and for the next 10 years Te Papa will be home to it. (Te Papa is the national museum)
Source:One News

Fugitive is in New Zealand

The funeral industry is being warned to doublecheck references before taking on international workers. It follows revelations embalmer Allen Wolford, who is aged in his forties, is on the run from California and Colorado police, after faking his own death in a bid to get himself out of debt. Word of his record of fraud, violent threats and criminal impersonation precedes him. He is wanted for credit card fraud, forgery and criminal impersonation. Wolford has been in New Zealand for a few weeks, arriving via the Philippines from the US, where active warrants are still out for his arrest. He has wasted no time approaching funeral parlours in the North Island, including the Far North, Auckland, and Wairarapa, asking for a job.
© 2007 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Investors band together

Investors who have lost money in finance company collapses are banding together. A group called Exposing Unacceptable Financial Advice (EUFA), has been formed to expose bad practice in the industry and hold those guilty of it to account. Spokeswoman Suzanne Edmonds says a lot of people have been hit hard in the pocket from bad advice from so-called advisors. She says since the group formed, her phone has been running hot with calls from mum and dad investors. She says questions have to be asked about the cause of the recent string of collapses, as the money that has been lost has to be going somewhere.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

RWC won by South Africa 15-6

South Africa has won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The Springboks beat England 15-6 in a physical final at the Stade de France in Paris. South African fullback Percy Montgomery kicked four penalties, with second-five Francois Steyn adding a long-range penalty in the second half. Two Jonny Wilkinson penalties was all England could muster. South Africa took a 9-3 halftime lead. It is their second World Cup crown, adding to the title they won at home in 1995.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Sports greats honoured at Maori awards

Sports greats Buck Shelford, Waimarama Taumaunu, Wynton Rufer and Stacey Jones will receive special awards at the National Maori Sports Awards to be held on November 24. Shelford (rugby), Taumaunu (netball) and Rufer (soccer) will be inducted into the Maori Sports Hall of Fame while Jones (league) will be presented with a Trustees Award by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust which is hosting the ceremony in Rotorua. Three-time World Cup winning New Zealand women's rugby team captain, Farah Palmer, was the 2006 Maori Sportsperson of the Year.
Source:NZPA

Breast cancer link to plastic

By MARY JANE BOLAND - Sunday Star Times
Chemicals in plastics like some drink bottles, babies' bottles and food containers are raising women's risk of breast cancer, says a visiting US expert. Dr Maricel Maffini, a biologist specialising in environmental causes of breast cancer, also warns people to avoid microwaving food in plastic containers and raises concerns about chemicals leaching from canned food. Maffini will this week speak in Rotorua at the first national breast cancer conference, organised by the Breast Cancer Network. Her research focuses on the links between breast cancer and chemicals like bisphenol A, found in many items including polycarbonate plastic containers. Bisphenol A increases exposure to oestrogen which lifts the risk of breast cancer. "The problem is these bottles leach bisphenol A, so you are constantly drinking a low level of bisphenol A," she told the Sunday Star-Times from Boston's Tufts University School of Medicine where she's a research assistant professor.

South Island population passes 1 million

The South Island's population has topped one million, according to figures due to be released this week. The unexpected growth spurt came in the most recent census period. The declining population in some regions has been reversed, including the West Coast where residents hope it will eventually lead to an increase in services.
Source:RNZ

Mallard has World Cup plan

The next steps in New Zealand's four-year build up to hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup have been announced. Rugby World Cup Minister Trevor Mallard has unveiled the plan following South Africa's 15-6 win against England in the final in France this morning. The Minister will be releasing the details of a leveraging and legacy project in the next couple of months aimed at ensuring the next tournament delivers lasting economic, environmental and social benefits to New Zealand.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Warbler surprise winner

The grey warbler is the surprise winner in Forest and Bird's Bird of the Year poll. Advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell says in previous years the title has been won by flashier and better known birds like the fantail and the tui. He says it is great to see the subtler charms of the grey warbler take the top spot this time. Found throughout New Zealand, the 11-centimetre bird is New Zealand's lightest bird, weighing just a third of the weight of a mouse.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Rugby: Argentina take RWC bronze medal

Argentina ran the French ragged in this morning's World Cup playoff match, claiming the bronze medal with a stunning 34-10 victory in Paris. It was a spiteful first half with both teams relegated to 14 men right on the stroke of halftime with French skipper Rapahel Ibanez and Pumas lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis sent to the bin. But the South Americans stepped up a gear in the second spell by scoring four of their five tries.
© CanWest TVWorks Limited

Three rescues in Coastal Classic race

The coastguard was called to help three vessels which got into strife in the annual Coastal Classic race from Auckland to Russell. Duty Officer Robert Whiteman says a group of four were safely rescued within an hour and were lucky to escape unhurt. He says another boat had a broken rudder while a third was towed due to a broken mast. The 12-metre catamaran Taeping crossed the line first out of the 130-strong fleet.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

130 tuatara (lizards) find sanctuary

One hundred and thirty tuatara have been freed into the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in a continued effort to establish a mainland population. A team of scientists spent five days on Stephens Island in the Marlborough Sounds last week catching the tuatara. Conservation scientist Raewyn Empson said warm weather last week meant plenty of tuatara were out and about on the island and could be easily captured by hand. In December 2005, the sanctuary became home to 70 tuatara returning to mainland New Zealand for the first time in more than 200 years. Those animals are thriving and some are thought to have mated.
Source:Dominion Post

Watties planting tomato crops

If the prospect of planting summer vegies over the long weekend is daunting for most home gardeners, it is an even bigger challenge for Watties. The company will be planting more than ten million tomato seedlings over the next six weeks on the Heretaunga Plains in Hawke's Bay as part of the 127,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables grown for the company. The plants will eventually produce about 36,000 tonnes of tomatoes.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

$9 Airfares to Christchurch for Cup day

Wellington and Auckland punters will be able to fly to Christchurch at a special $9 airfare for New Zealand Cup Day festivities in the Garden City. Pacific Blue announced today it was bringing forward its start date and offering $9 fares for two days from November 12. The NZ Trotting Cup is the following day. Christchurch's new mayor Bob Parker has urged North Islanders to take advantage of the cheap fares to journey south. "There's no better place to be on Cup Day than in Christchurch. It's where all the action will be." It was perfect timing for people keen to kick up their heels and join the festivities at Addington Raceway on one of the biggest days on the harness racing and fashion calendar - New Zealand Cup Day, Mr Parker said.
Source:NZPA

Shoemaker Kumfs to lay off 31 staff

Shoe manufacturer and exporter Kumfs is laying off 31 of the 114 staff at its Mangere factory as it grapples with the high cost of manufacturing in New Zealand. The 60-year-old company had explored other options, but despite a 14 per cent increase in sales last year and growing international markets, Kumfs decided to make redundancies, said managing director Andrew Robertson. "This decision has been driven by the lower cost of production offshore, along with supplier accessibility, combined with the high value of the New Zealand dollar. Over time, the whole supply chain for the footwear industry has shifted to China," Mr Robertson said. The company would offer help to affected staff to find alternative employment. Kumfs sells its shoes through nearly 700 stockists in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, North America and Asia.
Source:NZPA

Tourism numbers hit record high

The number of international tourists in New Zealand reached a record high last month. Altogether 168,000 visited, with the bulk of 84,000 people coming from Australia. Tourism New Zealand's acting chief executive Tim Hunter says it is a good result, considering the Rugby World Cup in Europe has sucked up a lot of global travel spending.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

SPC says new satellite-based internet system to connect remote islands

People living in remote islands and rural areas of the Pacific will soon be able to connect to the internet via a faster, low-cost, satellite-based system - many for the first time. The rural interconnectivity system or RICS was officially launched at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga this week. The Australian-funded project will involve sixteen pilot sites being installed in nine countries across the region by next April.

Key meets with Brit Conservative leader

National leader John Key says his relationship with British Conservative leader David Cameron is strong. The pair have held talks overnight in London where they discussed a range of issues affecting both countries, including taxes, climate change and the health system. Mr Key says it is the latest meeting he has held with conservative Prime Ministers, including Australia's John Howard and Canada's Stephen Harper. He says meeting with the leaders is useful in being able to exchange ideas and discuss issues common in each country. Mr Key is due to meet with New Zealand's High Commissioner to Britain Jonathan Hunt later today.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Maharey will not stand again

Cabinet Minister Steve Maharey has announced he will not be standing in next year's election. The MP for Palmerston North has made the decision for personal reasons. He says he will continue in his current ministerial portfolios until the cabinet reshuffle, which is expected in coming weeks.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

QC joins International Criminal Court

A leading New Zealand Queen's Counsel has taken up a position with the International Criminal Court. Nigel Hampton has accepted a four-year appointment with at the Hague. He says his position is a newly created role, focusing on standards and discipline. Nigel Hampton says he will still be based in Christchurch, but the position will require him to travel.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Brockovich campaign labelled a stunt

There are claims that Noel Leeming is pulling a publicity stunt with its announcement Erin Brockovich has forced its sister company Bond and Bond to scrap an advertising campaign. Famous US campaigner Erin Brockovich is being used in ad campaigns for Noel Leeming. She has demanded an ad for Noel Leeming's sister company Bond and Bond be pulled, claiming it is sexist. The campaign says "Government says fridges are better younger. Just like women really." Apparently concerned New Zealanders wrote to her, expressing outrage and asking her to do something about the ad. But The Newmarket Business Association is not buying it. Spokesman Cameron Brewer says it is public relations at its best.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Pacific Blue to spread wings early

Pacific Blue is taking off earlier than expected. The airline says domestic services will start on November 12, three days ahead of schedule. It is offering $9 fares on its Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch routes to mark the event. Tomorrow morning from 10am, 3,000 tickets will go on sale.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

NZ pilot's body found in Australian desert

The family of a New Zealand pilot killed when his light plane crashed in the Western Australian desert are travelling to Perth after his body was found yesterday. A police helicopter recovered the 25-year-old New Zealander's body from inside the Cessna C210 in rough terrain about 4.30pm yesterday (NZT).
The pilot left Warburton, in Western Australia's Gibson Desert, about 5.15pm on Wednesday to fly parcels to Kalgoorlie, 463km south-west of the crash site. The search was launched when the pilot failed to arrive within the expected 2½ hour time frame that the journey usually takes.
Source:NZPA

New Zealand protests Solomon Islands dolphin export

The New Zealand government says it’s gravely concerned over the resumption of live dolphin exports from Solomon Islands. Around thirty live dolphins were flown from the Solomons to Dubai yesterday, after a last ditch effort to get a court injunction to stop their export failed. New Zealand’s Conservation Minister, Chris Carter, says locking dolphins in small pens and transporting them by plane over a long distance is incredibly cruel. And he says he’s asked the Solomon Island authorities to consider the impact this will have on the Solomons’ dolphin population. Mr Carter says New Zealand is working with the Australian government to co-ordinate their protest to the live export programme.
Copyright © 2006 RNZI. All Rights Reserved

Fiji-Bainimarama fires parting shot at NZ

Fiji's self-appointed leader has made it clear he is not impressed with the opposition of New Zealand and Australia to his regime. Commodore Frank Bainimarama said as much to reporters in Tonga, just before boarding a plane back home from the Pacific Forum meeting. He wants New Zealand in particular to lift its restrictions on Fiji. Asked when he would like to see them removed, Commodore Bainimarama quipped "how about last week?" Commodore Bainimarama still thinks Fiji's constitution can be changed ahead of the next elections he has promised for 2009. It is something the forum is very much against and has made clear in its communique. However Commodore Bainimarama claims it was not the whole Pacific Forum that opposed changes to Fiji's constitution, just Australia and New Zealand.
© 2007 Newstalk ZB News

Bid to raise driving age accelerates

A plan to raise the minimum driving age from 15 to 16 is now a step closer. MPs have passed the first reading of United Future MP Peter Dunne's private member's bill, which would mean teenagers would need to be 16 before they could sit their learner's licence. Mr Dunne says there is mounting public concern about road safety and young people. He says the bill is not about removing a right for New Zealanders, but protecting young drivers.
Source:NZPA

NZ contributes $5m to rebuild Tongan capital

New Zealand is to donate $5 million to help rebuild the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa. A large part of the capital's commercial district was destroyed during pro-democracy riots in November last year when seven people were killed. The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, is in Tonga after the annual Pacific Island Forum leaders meeting finished on Wednesday. She says a lack of affordable finance for commercial businesses means reconstruction has been slow. Miss Clark says she believes Tonga is on track to become a constitutional monarchy with a democratic government.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand

Company director in court over illegal worker scam

A 51-year-old company director has appeared in the Hastings District Court charged with 11 offences under the Immigration Act. The man, who has interim name suppression, is accused of helping Chinese people to stay in the country unlawfully, for material benefit. His arrest was part of a wider Department of Labour investigation into employers who helped people to work unlawfully on orchards and vineyards. In August, two Vietnamese men were sent to jail on similar charges. A depositions hearing will be held in Napier next year for four other Hawke's Bay men, who face a total of 112 charges.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand

Catch a thief - get beer for life

A Rotorua brewery is offering what to some might be considered the best reward ever, in return for help retrieving a stolen computer. The laptop containing years of financial and creative work was taken during a break-in at Croucher Brewing on Monday. Co-owner Paul Croucher says the brewery will give a lifetime supply of beer to anyone with information leading to both the safe return of the laptop and the arrest of the "little blighters" who stole it. Mr Croucher says a lifetime's supply of beer works out to a carton a month.
© 2007 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Rumbling Fiordland frightening tourists

Work to clear avalanche and rockfall debris from the Milford Road was continuing this morning, with Transit New Zealand set to assess the situation later today. Road access to Milford Sound was cut for a second day yesterday after Tuesday's series of earthquakes and aftershocks. An avalanche about 1pm on Tuesday swept a 25m-wide wall of boulders, rock and mud across both lanes of the highway near the Divide and Lower Hollyford Road. Since Tuesday's earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks, tourism operators had been doing a good job in reassuring tourists - some of whom had been "quite frightened" - and explaining what was happening.
Source:NZPA

Maori and Pacific Islanders behind European NZers

By KATE CHAPMAN - NZPA
Maori and Pacific Islanders are still behind the average European New Zealander for most social indicators but they are improving, according to a report released today by the Ministry of Social Development. Of the 20 indicators, the only four where Maori are not below the European average are participation in tertiary education, regular contact with friends and family, participation in physical activity and participation in cultural and arts activities.

Bon Jovi to play one-off Christchurch show

By FIONA JARDEN - The Press
Christchurch rock fans' long-lived prayers have been answered – Bon Jovi will play their only New Zealand concert in the city next January. The group - which has sold more than 120 million albums and played 2500 concerts in more than 50 countries - yesterday announced it will be stopping over in New Zealand to play a one-off concert at Christchurch's AMI Stadium on January 27. The band will arrive from Japan via Australia on their Bon Jovi – The Lost Highway tour. After playing in Christchurch they head home to the United States to play at a half-time show of the American Football Super Bowl.

'Deep clean' planned for infected hospital

By KIM THOMAS - The Press
Wards at Christchurch's Princess Margaret Hospital will get a "deep clean" by a team of mask-wearing experts as they try to remove all traces of a norovirus outbreak. Two wards at the hospital and one at Burwood Hospital remain closed after an outbreak of the gastroenteritis virus that has hit Christchurch in the past few weeks. It is hoped the two Princess Margaret wards will reopen by the end of the week. A total of seven Christchurch wards have been closed over the past few weeks and scores of Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) patients and staff incapacitated by the virus.

Thumbs-up to huge wind farm

By BRUCE HOLLOWAY - Waikato Times
A proposal to build New Zealand's biggest wind farm along Waikato's remote west coast between Te Akau and Port Waikato is being welcomed by residents and politicians. Contact Energy yesterday revealed plans for a $2 billion project in which 218 giant turbines would be built on a series of windswept ridges slightly inland, along a 40km stretch of barely inhabited coast. The wind farm will be known as Hauauru ma raki, meaning northwest wind, of which there is plenty along the isolated Te Akau coast, where many trees grow sideways. At peak the wind farm will produce up to 650MW, enough to energise 250,000 households, and rate as the biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere.

Kiwi pigs so hot right now in UK

By JO MCKENZIE-MCLEAN - The Press
Forget poodles and chihuahuas – pigs crossbred with New Zealand's kune kune are the celebrity pet du jour in Britain. English breeder Chris Murray said he had the perfect pet pig thanks to a bit of kune kune "Kiwi blood" crossbred with local miniature pigs. Celebrities are snapping up the tiny porkers, including television personality Jonathan Ross, who bought two as pets for $800. The Pennywell miniature pigs are bred at Murray's wildlife centre in Buckfastleigh, Devon. Murray said the pigs were bred from a range of old English strains and had been crossed with New Zealand's kune kune for its "sweet temperament". "Other pigs can be quite snappy mothers but with the kune kune influence they are so laid back," he said. People came to see the pigs from all over Britain, and people had made offers to buy them from as far away as Australia, the United States and even New Zealand, Murray said.