Shipley Chest Pains – Electricity Inquiry – Big Chill – South Island Snow – Syria Live Funeral Coverage – Korean
Détente? – Visa Protest – Speight Shot At – Solomon Islands – Nurse To Solomons
SHIPLEY CHEST PAINS: Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley is in hospital with pains in the chest. She is expected to be their
a week. Burton Shipley would not comment. She was admitted last night with chest pains at 7.30pm. Wyatt Creech – she has
had a small knock. She will have a full recovery. The Doctor thought she should have some tests today. She has been
given some therapy. No difficulty with conversation. Bright face.” Shipley has always be proud of her constitution.
Shipley will miss a golden opportunity for political mileage.
ELECTRICITY INQUIRY: The inquiry into electricity has made recommendations on electricity regulation. An $850,000
inquiry. Reccommends independent watchdog. To fix charges at no more than 25% of average bill. David Caygill says the
line companies have not faced any competition. What line company charges is one of the main reasons the inquiry was
launched. However it does believe the industry can regulate itself. The line company group is also confident it can
self-regulate. While power companies have been attacked NZ prices are amongst the cheapest in the world. The question
says Caygill is whether we can do better – and we can.
BIG CHILL: Ferry passengers get a bumpy ride. Aucklanders buy heaters. 8 trucks stuck on the Napier Highway. One stuck
from 5.45am. 400 yards of ice on one part of the road. Waiouru police say it is worse to get a little bit than a lot. 6m
swells in the Cook Strait. Auckland down to 12 degrees – sub tropical – people buying blankets and heaters. Warmer
weather expected Thursday.
SOUTH ISLANDS SNOW: At Mt Hutt staff and skiers forced to sleep over on the mountain. Snowed in skier is pleased. On
high country roads the blizzard caused chaos. Hoards bunked down in the restaurant. 40cm of new snow is good news.
Queenstown skiers say they have never had it so good. Good and long snowfall season says Augie Auer. Australian bookings
up 50% on this time last year. First special Aussie ski connections flys
SYRIA LIVE FUNERAL COVERAGE: Syria’s president died at the weekend. Pictures live from a satellite of the funeral
cortege. His son walks behind the
KOREAN DÉTENTE: South Korea’s president meets North Korea’s in North Korea.
VISA PROTEST – SPEIGHT SHOT AT: Fijian visas are to be withheld from touring Fijian sports people – starting with the
Fiji Rugby team. Meanwhile George Speight escapes alive from 20 or more “warning shots” and says god saved him and the
hostages. Speight - “the fact they fired at us with the intent to kill confirms the hidden agenda all this time”. He is
demanding a written apology from the military government.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Steve Christiansen meets the Tobruk home from the Solomons and then goes there and back with Airforce.
Lots of seasick people. Baby formula flown into the ship by Blackhawk helicopter. NZ air crew are pleased to be back
safely to. Ferry’s are busy taking people of Solomons away back to villages for a holiday. Schools all closed. Church
leaders also call for outside help. So far calls for troops are being ignored. NZ and Aust are still insisting on a
political solution.
NURSE TO SOLOMONS: Nurse Marriane Whittington leaving for the Solomons is confident she has the skills for the job. She
expects to be their for several months. She has served before in Bosnia.
Later - SCOTLAND BEAT POVERTY BAY