Speight Shot At - Warning To Would-Be Fiji Travelers - Solomon Evacuations - Business Survey Results - Icy Weather In
The South
SPEIGHT SHOT AT: There is renewed tension in Fiji tonight after the army opened fire on a convoy carrying Fijian coup
leader George Speight. The army has apologised saying the shooting was a mistake – no one was hurt in the incident. The
army has denied George Speight’s claims that this was a plot to assassinate him saying the move was a “grave
miscalculation.” The move has caused further unease in the capital with fears Speight supporters may retaliate.
WARNING TO WOULD-BE FIJI TRAVELERS: The Government has a warning for travelers still going to Fiji – if commercial
airlines stop flying from the islands tourists may have to pay for airline chartered by the Government to evacuate them.
SOLOMON EVACUATIONS: The army is continuing the evacuations from the Solomon Islands with a boeing 727 expected to fly
out of the capital at midnight tonight Tensions have increased in the outlying Islands in Gizo where one man has been
killed by soldiers believed to be from the Bouganvillian revolutionary army.
BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS: The Government still has a job to convince businesses in the country that their policies will
help businesses. The latest National Bank survey shows rural New Zealand has seen a increase in growth by 1.4 percent
nationwide but in the cities growth has eased slightly. The increased growth in the provinces is due to the low kiwi
dollar which has increased export returns in the agricultural and horticultural sectors. In a bid to convince small
businesses of the worth of their policies Prime Minister Helen Clark has sent over 10,000 small businesses a letter
detailing the bonuses of the Government’s planned legislation.
ICY WEATHER IN THE SOUTH: In the South Island Central Otago is in the grip of an icy blizzard with schools, roads and
businesses having to be closed because of the bad weather. The snow fall is Queenstown’s biggest dump in four years.
While stock looked cold farmers say they are in great shape for the winter with plenty of stock to keep their animals
well fed for a return to more traditional cold weather in the area after a warm last few years.