Daily New Zealand News
- Environmental vandalism over shellfish - In what has been called 'a stunning case of environmental vandalism', two shellfish gatherers have been found with almost a thousand more cockles than the daily bag limit. They were stopped at Cockle Bay in Auckland this week. A complete ban on shellfish gathering comes into force at the beach next week to give the beds a chance to recover. Cockle populations are down to just one-third of what they were three years ago. The Minister of Fisheries says the overgathering of cockles will affect the shellfishery for future generations. Jim Anderton says if people continue to abuse the daily bag limit, there will soon not be any cockles left. Mr Anderton says the consequences for abusing the daily bag limit of cockles will be severe. He says the ministry will enforce fines and will not hesitate to seize people's belongings such as their cars, boats and trailers.
Copyright 2002 - 2008, TelstraClear Ltd - Air-powered cars coming to New Zealand - Buzzing about in a compressed air-powered car will be an option for environmentally conscious Kiwis later this year. The revolutionary new vehicle powered by compressed air can be driven at a speed of up to 70kmh, travel 100km for $2 and will save energy and help the environment, the New Zealand Herald reported today. The small Airpod was likely to be imported into New Zealand by the end of the year by New Zealand company IndraNet Technologies from its European manufacturer, MDI. The Airpod has a very small compressed air-powered engine on each of the rear wheels and is steered by controlling the flow of air from each engine.
Copyright 2002 - 2008, TelstraClear Ltd - Thaw with US military slips out on website - By HANK SCHOUTEN - The Dominion Post
After decades of cold-shoulder treatment, United States military brass are now saying a US-New Zealand military partnership is vital to meet security challenges in the Pacific region. Joint military exercises are on offer again, according to US Air Force commander Lieutenant General Loyd S Utterback, who was in Wellington last month for a conference hosted by air force chief Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott. Since 1987 the US has blocked New Zealand forces from taking part in routine joint exercises. The only exceptions were preparations for war-zone deployments and, till recently, presidential waivers were required for anything else. In a statement published on the US Air Force website, General Utterback said a partnership between the US and New Zealand militaries was vital. - Nationals' hidden agenda? - National leader John Key hit the campaign trail yesterday to sell his tax package, but had to fight off fresh controversy as more secret recordings surfaced. Deputy leader Bill English was recorded telling National Party delegates: "Winning is fantastic. Nothing beats winning in politics, despite all our highly principled statements. It's fantastic ... do what we need to do to win." The recording was made at a National conference cocktail party in Wellington two months ago, when other excerpts were leaked to media.
- Nats' tax policy hits low-income savers - By VERNON SMALL - The Dominion Post
National is courting a tax policy backlash, with KiwiSavers on low incomes set to be worse off by up to $25 a week under its proposals - making the slog of saving for a house deposit or retirement harder. The party is receiving a cool response to its package, as the full effect for low-income KiwiSavers sinks in. This includes its move to match no more than 2 per cent of a worker's wages with government subsidies worth up to $20 a week. While all workers in KiwiSaver would be worse off, those earning up to $40,000 a year with a family and paying 4 per cent of their wage into the scheme would suffer a double whammy - less in their pockets and a much lower government subsidy. - 'No basis' for NZ First fraud charges - By TRACY WATKINS - The Dominion Post
A Serious Fraud Office investigation into NZ First has found no fraud but other laws may have been broken, the agency said today. In a statement, SFO director Grand Liddell said the agency had determined that there was no basis for fraud charges relating to donations channelled through the Spencer Trust. NZ First leader Winston Peters said the SFO investigation was a "total and unnecessary waste of time as there was never anything to be investigated". The complaint to the SFO was made by ACT leader Rodney Hide. "The only complainant in this sorry episode was a sad little man in a yellow coat, so desperate for attention he used a tawdry stunt to tie up the resources of an agency that should have been investigating serious crime." - Nats' poll shock blamed on Key's leadership - Increasing doubts over National leader John Key's readiness to be Prime Minister are being cited as the reason behind a dramatic narrowing of National's lead in the latest poll. The Roy Morgan poll shows National has fallen seven points in the last fortnight, to 40.5 percent support. Labour is up one to 37.5 percent, meaning the gap between the two parties is just three points. Pollster Gary Morgan says John Key's inability to remember how many Tranz Rail shares he had and his past as a merchant banker, raise questions about how capable he is of leading the country through the financial crisis.
Copyright 2002 - 2008, TelstraClear Ltd - Rodney the healthiest place to live - If you want to live a long and healthy life then the Rodney District is where you should be. It has topped the list of the 10 healthiest places to live in New Zealand, in a report commissioned by the ASB Bank. The Top Spots report shows Rodney residents are the most physically active, have a healthy body weight and residents claim they seldom, if ever, experience high levels of stress. Wellington came second followed by Auckland's North Shore, Christchurch, Dunedin and Nelson.
Copyright 2002 - 2008, TelstraClear Ltd - Australia not heading for recession: Rudd - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd refuses to concede the Australian economy could slide into recession because of the global financial crisis. Asked on Thursday night on ABC TV about the possibility of Australia being swept up in a global recession, the prime minister maintained that the fundamentals supporting the Australian economy were sound. Mr Rudd pointed to a report issued by the International Monetary Fund which forecast the Australian economy to grow by 2.5% in 2008 and 2.2% in 2009. New Zealand's banking system made the report's top 10, scoring 6.6 out of a possible seven, just behind Australia. Most of New Zealand's banks are owned by Australian banks.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand - Bangladesh win first match in cricket series - The Black Caps were beaten in a one day international cricket match by Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday. The home tieam won the toss and restricted New Zealand to 201 for 9. Bangladesh reached their target in the 46th over with seven wickets in hand. Captain Mohammad Ashraful finished unbeaten on 60. It was their first win over the Black Caps in 12 one day matches.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand - Defence industry renews calls for US trade deal - The defence industry is renewing calls for a free trade agreement with the United States, which would allow New Zealand companies to compete for a slice of US military contracts. Representatives of local companies met in Wellington this week for a conference of the Defence Industry Association. Defence companies cannot directly register for US Federal Government contracts because New Zealand does not have a free trade deal with the United States. The US is starting trade negotiations with the P4 group of countries, which includes New Zealand, in March next year.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand - Want to be a whale medic? - Northlanders are being given the chance to train as whale medics. New Zealand has one of the highest whale stranding rates in the world and Northland is considered a particular hotspot. Two years ago, more than 80 long finned pilot whales stranded on Ruakaka Beach. Project Jonah CEO Kimberly Muncaster says the whale rescue course gives people the skills and confidence to take the right steps and provide first aid to the whales in their most desperate hour of need.
Copyright 2002 - 2008, TelstraClear Ltd - National under fire for KiwiSaver changes - The Prime Minister is accusing National of repeating history with its changes to the KiwiSaver scheme. National setting minimum employer and employee contributions in the scheme at two percent to help fund the party's tax cut package. Helen Clark says National has effectively wrecked KiwiSaver, whacking away half of the benefits it previously had and alleges it has shades of what happened to the Labour super scheme back in 1975. She says then Robert Muldoon axed, without legislating, the super scheme designed by the Kirk Government. Miss Clark says it is critical we focus on growth and investment, not short term gains in consumer spending.
Copyright 2002 - 2008, TelstraClear Ltd - John Key in trouble over productivity comments - John Key is facing criticism over his comments on hospital productivity. The National Party leader said last night productivity in the health system has collapsed, despite the fact Government funding has increased. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Ian Powell says he has cast a slur over health professionals by using misleading data. He says productivity has not declined and he is using data from Treasury, which is collected for a different purpose.
Copyright 2002 - 2008, TelstraClear Ltd - GM rules changed - The Government is toughening the rules on genetically-modified organisms. It is requiring such organisms to be fully segregated from other organisms and to be fully traceable after they are released. The regulations were announced on Thursday and will be effective from next month. They mean that when the Environmental Risk Management Authority receives an application for conditional release of a modified organism, the applicant will have to show how it will be kept separate from other organisms and how it can be traced later if needed.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand
