Mark Todd Allegations - Goldie Stolen From Auckland Museum - Northland Toddler Still On Life Support - Soldiers Trained
For Combat - Major Tried For Desertion - Travel Survey Results For Transport
MARK TODD ALLEGATIONS: There is political pressure on Mark Todd to either confirm or deny allegations by a British
tabloid that he took cocaine in an Oxford hotel in Britain. Both Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton and Sports Minister
Trevor Mallard have made the call saying if Todd won a medal it could cause embarrassment to the country. However Trevor
Mallard says he still supports Mark Todd and has sympathy for him.
- GOLDIE STOLEN FROM AUCKLAND MUSEUM: Police are hunting a Goldie painting stolen from Auckland’s museum after theives
tampered with a security camera and simply walked off with the painting. The painting could be worth up to $80,000, but
museum authorities say there would be no market for the painting which could not be shown publicly because it was so
well known.
- NORTHLAND TODDLER STILL ON LIFE SUPPORT: A two year old Northland toddler allegedly beaten by her grandmother is still
on the life support system at Auckland’s Starship hospital tonight. Meanwhile, Child Youth & Family has launched an internal review of the case to see why its staff placed the child in the care of its
grandmother.
- SOLDIERS TRAINED FOR COMBAT: The largest group of part time soldiers to be sent into combat since the Vietnam war have
been training in a military camp today. The army will be sending the 600 strong battalion to East Timor to keep the
peace as part of United Nations operation.
- MAJOR TRIED FOR DESERTION: In Wellington Major Pedro van der Ent has been found guilty of desertion after he left
early when he was offered a job by Telecom. The army says it had to prosecute to maintain discipline, but the major says
he had done nothing wrong. The guilty verdict is the first for desertion since the Second World War, and is expected to
cost the major about $14,000.
- TRAVEL SURVEY RESULTS FOR TRANSPORT: A travel survey has found more and more children are being driven to school,
while most New Zealanders still beat the pavement, but in less and less numbers. Wellingtonians lead the walkers with
one-in-four walking short trips into town.