Fiji Coup x 2 – Student Loans – ACT Caucus – Middle East Peace – National Missile Defence – Transalta – Gisborne
Hospital – UK Murder – Economist Dies
FIJI COUP: The Fiji coup leader George Speight is threatening more unrest after only four of his supporters were
appointed into the new Government. Speight says he had expected to meet the new PM before the announcement of the
line-up, but hadn’t.
FIJI COUP: NZ is withdrawing its High Commissioner for consultations because of the inclusion of Speight supporters in
the new government. Foreign Minister Phil Goff says the government is still looking for a clear timetable for a
reinstatement of democracy.
STUDENT LOANS: WINZ Minister Steve Maharey says clear guidelines have been given to WINZ on student loans processing but
he can not make guarantees that there will not be problems. Maharey says that in future WINZ will have officers based on
campuses.
ACT CAUCUS: ACT today begins a three day caucus in Auckland facing deep divisions over the handling of Tamihere and
Samuels. Polls show that 69% of voters now have an unfavourable view of Richard Prebble.
MIDDLE EAST PEACE: The Israelis and Palestinians are holding their final round of scheduled meeting in Camp David.
President Clinton is due to leave tomorrow for a G8 summit in Japan. Jerusalem is the major sticking point.
NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENCE: The leaders of China and Russia have issued a joint warning to the US over its planned
National Missile Defence system. The system would lead to a new arms race the leaders said. The US says meanwhile that
it is pushing ahead with the NMD.
TRANSALTA: The lobby group Grey Power says older people are being unfairly treated by Transalta for not using enough
electricity. Transalta says that competition among retailers has taken off.
GISBORNE HOSPITAL: Gisborne Hospital failed an accreditation review last July. The review was invited to ecourage it to
improve quality.
UK MURDER: A British school girl who went missing has been found murdered in a field.
ECONOMIST DIES: Economics Professor Brian Philpott has died following a long illness. Philpott was a strong opponent of
aspects of new right economics.