Petrol Price Hike – Airways Allegations – Sailing Tragedy – Bungy Accident – West Coast Logging Job Losses – McKinnon In
Zimbabwe – Everest Attempt
PETROL PRICE HIKE: BP adds five cents to the cost of a litre of petrol.
MAORI SPECTRUM: Maori are to be given a slice of spectrum at a discounted price. Trevor Mallard and Dover Samuels make
the announcement. Brand new cell-phone technology will use the spectrum. The government says it is not Treaty related
but the opposition says it sets a dangerous precedent.
AIRWAYS ALLEGATIONS: What is going on is the message from SOE Minister Mark Burton. Minister came out and said it was a
full and frank discussion and he had received assurances that Winston Peters allegations were not correct. Burton says
he should have been informed as the shareholding minister. The PM says she wants an explanation. John Maasland did not
have much to say after the meeting except that he had had full and frank discussions.
SAILING TRAGEDY: A father and son have died after their boat capsized off the Hawkes Bay coast. Coastguard found the
bodies who had died in the water of hypothermia. Sea conditions were described as relatively smooth. The mast had
punctured the hull of the 7m yacht.
BUNGY ACCIDENT: Adventureworld’s activities are suspended after an American tourist dies in a bungy accident when a
bungy cord that is too long was attached to the jumper. The same company was involved in a canyoning accident in
Switzerland last year.
WEST COAST LOGGING: Anxiety in the timber industry following the cancellation of West Coast Rimu contracts. Two
companies say they will be closing up shop because of the decision. The industry claims 4000 jobs will be lost.
DON MCKINNON IN ZIMBABWE: Don McKinnon is on tour in Zimbabwe involving himself in dialogue and bringing with him the
concerns of the Commonwealth.
EVEREST ATTEMPT: Safety concerns on the fastest attempt ever on Everest. The attempt to make it from base camp to the
summit in 20 hours failed 100m from the top.