First Segment
Bomb Scare – Ernest Adams Fire – School Fire – Mosgiel Jobs Lost – Cervical Inquiry In Gisbourne – Suspect Cocaine
Ketch
BOMB SCARE: A triple bomb scare in the Waikato Town of Te Aroha meant schools, houses and businesses have all been
threatened in this small Waikato town. THe scare started after a caller rang police reporting there was a bomb in the
local BNZ centre and two further bombs in the town; one in the local library and one in one of three of the town's
primary schools. Police found a package in the library but it wasn't a bomb. Locals say the scare is the biggest the
town has ever known and the only time it has featured in the news since the local Bendon factory closed, laying off
workers last year. Police say they have very little to go on about who is responsible for the scare.
ERNEST ADAMS FIRE: A huge blaze has destroyed the landmark Ernest Adams bakery in Christchurch. One of the biggest fires
in the district for years the fire was believed to have started in the ceiling and spread to the rest of the building.
The blaze began at about 8:30 this morning with the factory's 45 staff having to drop everything in the run to get out.
They could only stand and watch as the workplace was destroyed. The damage could put pressure on jobs already threatened
by previous restructuring.
SCHOOL FIRE: Late this afternoon a big fire also gutted a South Auckland school gymnasium. Five boys were initially
thought to be inside the building but were later found to be out running.
MOSGIEL JOBS LOST: One hundred and forty-two jobs are to go in the historic 130-year-old wool mill in Mosgiel near
Dunedin when a joint venture between two overseas companies collapsed after the international wool market dropped. Just
a year ago over 100 workers at the plant lost their jobs in a large restructuring exercise. Locals say this closure
could be the last straw for the small town. The closure could also affect the fashion industry with high profile labels
like Karen Walker having to source more of their wool from overseas.
CERVICAL INQUIRY IN GISBOURNE: The Government has had a major change of heart over the Cervical Smear Cancer Inquiry –
all hearings for the Inquiry will be held in Gisbourne so that the women who are involved can be easily involved. Last
week women reacted angrily to the government inqury team who told them they would have to go to Auckland to take part in
the hearings. The women now say they feel empowered.
SUSPECT COCAINE KETCH - Police believe Bora-bora 2, a ketch anchored in Opoa in the Bay of Islands, bought cocaine into
New Zealand from Colombia. Police were initially suspicious of the boat when it came into New Zealand in mid January and
searched it soon after, finding nothing. The South American crew have since fled New Zealand, and police believe the
cocaine was swapped offshore onto the Ngaire, a yacht on which Australian police found over 500 kilos of cocaine when it
entered an Australian harbour. Police say New Zealand has a history of being a transit point for international drug
smugglers as it is considered a “low risk” stopover.