Baby Bashing – Cancer Inquiry – Deserting Officer – Tax Inquiry – Special Education – Women Detectives – Middle East
Peace – Fiji-Coup – Tranzrail Inquiry
BABY BASHING: The CEO of the collective of Women’s refuges says that Maori have to acknowledge that they tolerate
violence against children. She said poverty was a contributory factor but says that Maori Leadership need to do more.
Meanwhile the chief social worker Mike Doolan says he is reviewing the case.
CANCER INQUIRY: One of the women in a support group at the Gisborne Cancer Inquiry says that she had expected Dr
Bottrill to take more responsibility for his mistakes.
DESERTING OFFICER: The commanding officer of Major Van der Ent who was yesterday found guilty of desertion from the army
says that the outcome of the case was good for everybody. The sentence for Mr Van der Ent has been dismissal from the
army.
TAX INQUIRY: National and ACT have dismissed the Government’s tax inquiry – cost $500,000 – as a waste of money. ACT
Rodney Hide says that NZ is known for its robust tax system. National says that Labour is searching for a tax policy.
SPECIAL EDUCATION: A draft report into Special Education Policy has found that the area is still a trouble spot. The
report recommends a new national network of centres.
WOMEN DETECTIVES: The country’s most senior woman detective has resigned saying that it is hard to balance the job with
raising a family. A report is out on women in the police force.
MIDDLE EAST PEACE: The Israeli PM Ehud Barak has survived a confidence vote in the Israeli Parliament. He survived by a
substantial margin – 11 votes. Mr Barak appealed to the Parliament to rise above petty politics.
FIJI-COUP: Fiji’s deposed coalition government says it is determined to go ahead with a government in excile.
TRANZRAIL INQUIRY: The Ministerial inquiry into Tranzrail employment safety is continuing today. The inquiry is
investigating five deaths in Tranzrail over the last year.