Fiji Violence – Local Government NZ – Petrol Prices – Baby Bashing – Fog – ERB – US Presidential Election – Serbian
Arrests – Fiji Tourism – Goldie Theft
FIJI VIOLENCE: One soldier and one policeman are dead following a drive by shooting in Fiji last night. The military are
still releasing information on the incident. The shooters were in a green 4WD vehicle. George Speight is in custody on a
remote island with 12 others.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NZ: Wellington Mayor Mark Blumsky says he has resigned from the Local Government NZ Council over the
way the departing CEO was treated. The Minister of Sandra Lee rejects claims she was responsible
PETROL PRICES: The Automobile Association says the high price of petrol is starting to influence driving habits of
drivers. In the past year the cost of petrol has risen 35 cents a litre. Many motorists have stopped taking long trips.
Shell says that at this stage it has no plans to raise its prices.
BABY BASHING: Police investigating the death of a Wairarapa toddler say they are also investigating assaults on other
children in the dead toddler’s family group.
FOG: Heavy fog is still delaying flights in and out of Auckland for a second day.
ERB: MPs are bracing themselves for a marathon sitting of Parliament to push the Employment Relations Bill through under
urgency this week. The new law will be passed with the support of the Greens.
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Al Gore has invited Senator Leiberman to be his vice-presidential running mate in the
up-coming Presidential election. Leiberman was a critic of Bill Clinton’s extra-marital activities.
SERBIAN ARRESTS: The Serbian army claims two Canadian and two UK arrestees are terrorists and says it intends to
prosecute them as such. An army spokesman says the four were found with demolition equipment.
FIJI TOURISM: The collapse of tourism in Fiji has given a boost to Northland tourism that could last two years. A
Northland Hotel says that it has picked up 2500 guests from an US tour operator who has taken Fiji off the itinerary.
GOLDIE THEFT: Police have not ruled out charging a businessman who returned a missing Goldie painting, claiming he had
purchased it for $10,000. Meanwhile police remain hopeful that an enhancement of video footage might help them.