Waitangi Celebrations - Drugs Billionaire - Cars On Runway - La Mama - West Coast Protest - Lombok Riots - Backyard
Eruption - Smelly Pigs
WAITANGI CELEBRATIONS: Thanks but no thanks. The PM has decided not to go to Waitangi for Waitangi Day. She will go to
Akaroa instead. Helen Clark says she will not become a pawn. Too many agendas are running at Waitangi she says.
Unpleasantness and rudeness in 1998 reduced the PM to tears. The Governor General will go to Akaroa and then Auckland's
Warrior's rugby league match at Erricson. Nga Puhi blames Titewhai Hariwira. Hariwira says she is no dissappointed. The
former PM says it is a cop-out. The PM says she is trying to refocus Waitangi day.
DRUGS BILLIONAIRE: The Anonymous drug importing billionaire's lawyer has lodged another appeal delaying again any
release of the man's name. Judge David Harvey today adjourned a hearing which was to have discussed the matter. Lawyers
for the New Zealand Herald have been trying to name the billionaire who admitted importing hashish and cannabis. Stephen
Davis editor of the Herald says it is about principle not the man in particular. The High Court has been asked to decide
1. whether the District Court can reopen a case it has already closed and 2. whether the Herald has standing in the
proceedings.
CAR ON RUNWAY: Car on Auckland runway was driven by a Japanese driver. The driver says he innocently drove onto the
tarmac following another car through a security gate. He then drove around for ages looking for a way out. He was seen
on the runway by a Qantas 767 which pulled up from an approach.
LA MAMA: La Mama has been spotted in the Pacific bringing warmer summers and milder winters. It is expected to produce
more La Ninas and fewer El Ninos. There is a greater risk of extreme events but in general the weather is expected to be
good for New Zealand says Augie Auer.
WEST COAST PROTEST: West Coast resident protestors stop a coal train in its track. They say they want the West Coast not
to be neglected. Locals are angry about the move of Solid Energy's Head Office and the end of Beech Logging. Damien
O'Connor says that the decision to close the office will be reviewed by the Crown Company Monitoring Unit. Rural Action
New Zealand say they want action fast.
LOMBOK RIOTS: Lombok riots against Christians and Ethnic Chinese continue.
BACKYARD ERUPTION: Geyser appears in a Rotorua homes back yard. Home video catches the Geyser exploding in a backyard.
The street is used to being a tourist attraction. Resident says Papatuanuku is playing up and we all need to be very
careful.
SMELLY PIGS: Cambridge farmer is accused of smelling too much. Roger Johnson has a big effluent pond and 4000 pigs. He
says he will fight being run out of town. Neighbour says he cannot sell because the pigs smell too much. Patrick Hogan
is another neighbour - and he is also concerned at the pong.