New Zealand Herald

Fiji Sanctions - Paper Rolls- Citibank Swindler- Driving Loophole- Mystery Virus- Hunger Striker- Health Restructuring- African Discrimination- Reason For Discrimination - Waipareira Trust Contracts - Bed Sharing - Robbie Williams

FIJI SANCTIONS: Fijian coup leaders may face New Zealand court action and the seizing of personal fortunes under beefed-up sanctions proposed by the Government. Foreign Minister Phil Goff revealed yesterday that he was considering legislation enabling the seizing of New Zealand-held assets belonging to key figures in the political crisis.

- PAPER ROLLS: Jack Mountain first thought the floating debris off his Far North farm was a giant tree. Now he is left with the problem of 14 huge paper rolls that litter the coastline of his farm on the Purerua Peninsula.

- CITIBANK SWINDLER: It took just three years for a top Citibank executive to become one of this nation's biggest swindlers. Graeme Kenneth Rutherfurd resigned as investment manager at Citibank in late 1995, amid plaudits from dozens of happy customers. Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash spoke at his leaving party.

- DRIVING LOOPHOLE: A judge's frustration with a "mistake" in the law boiled over in the Wanganui District Court yesterday. Judge Andrew Becroft described as scandalous a situation arising from the Land Transport Act 1988 that compels judges to impose extended periods of disqualification on motorists convicted of disqualified driving. Before the act was rewritten 15 months ago judges could impose alternative community-based sentences.

- MYSTERY VIRUS: A Howick mother is still seeking answers to why her fit, healthy daughter succumbed to a mystery virus within hours. Joy Evans said her daughter, Bronwyn, 18, was working in California as a camp counsellor when she died last July.

- HUNGER STRIKER: A hunger striker in Mt Eden Prison is now refusing to drink water and has been urinating blood. Convicted burglar Kara Whareumu today entered his 26th day without food in protest against being moved about 500km from his family.

- HEALTH RESTRUCTURING: The bill for restructuring the health sector has hit $12 million and the new system is expected to cost the same to run in as the old one. National health spokesman Wyatt Creech has accused Health Minister Annette King of hiding the details of the costs but she says she does not have them.

- AFRICAN DISCRIMINATION: African-born Boubacar Coulibaly does not bother racing to the front of the customs line at Auckland Airport any more. The 40-year-old Auckland man says he knows he will be one of the last people through.

- REASON FOR DISCRIMINATION: The Jamaican lawyer who says Customs singled him out because of his colour killed a man last year and is known to Interpol. But Customs says it knew nothing of Colin Henry's background - and had no indication of police interest when staff approached him on arrival at Auckland Airport twice in recent months.

- WAIPAREIRA TRUST CONTRACTS: An investigation into the Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust has found shortcomings in the way the organisation handled its contracts. The findings have led the Government to order a new set of rules for contracts between state agencies and organisations such as the West Auckland trust.

- BED SHARING: Parents who smoke, or who smoked during pregnancy, should not share beds with their babies, a top health official told the Wellington Coroner's Court yesterday. Dr Pat Tuohy, the Ministry of Health's chief adviser on child health, was presenting submissions at inquests into the deaths of three babies, who all apparently died from accidental asphyxia.

- ROBBIE WILLIAMS: He came on like a sharpshooter then hit his audience in the heart with a song he wrote for New Zealand. Robbie Williams had not only landed, he was here to strut.

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