Waitara Shooting Protests – Stranded Sub – Fiji Travel Warning Eased – Petrol Price Rise – Cold Snap
- WAITARA SHOOTING PROTESTS: Angry protesters converged on the Police station in Wellington today, in the wake of the
Police report which exonerated the Police officer who shot Steven Wallace in Waitara over three months ago. Steven
Wallace’s mother, Raewyn Collingwood broke her silence in an exclusive One News interview, saying she had lost faith in
the Police. She said her son might have been able to stand up and say what happened for himself if he hadn’t been shot
so many times. Friends of the Policeman who shot Mr Wallace, who has only been identified publicly as Officer A, have
said his life has changed drastically since the incident. He hasn’t been able to work during the inquiry and he has been
forced out of Waitara, his home town, fearing for his and his family’s safety.
- STRANDED SUB: International help has arrived for the seamen trapped on the Barent’s Sea floor in the Russian
submarine, Kursk, but it may be too late. A hastily chartered supply plane, carrying a British submersible rescue craft,
is flying to in from Norway, after the Russian Navy finally conceded they needed help. Faint tapping from inside the sub
resumed late today after silence for most of the day. High seas and powerful currents have hampered rescue attempts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, on holiday, is being constantly updated on the rescue. Air supply to the seamen is
finite and fast running out.
- FIJI TRAVEL WARNING EASED: The New Zealand Government has eased its Fiji travel warning, but non-essential trips to
some areas, including the capital Suva, is still advised against.
- PETROL PRICE RISE: Mobil is raising the price of petrol another three cents blaming rising crude oil prices and the
weak New Zealand dollar. Mobil have challenged the Government to reduce petrol taxes to help control the ever-increasing
cost. Unleaded is now $1.18 per litre.
- COLD SNAP: South Island farmers have been warned to move stock as a cold front, with snow forecast, moves over the
country. Farmers are in the middle of lambing. Almost eight years ago to the day a cold snap bringing unseasonal snow
killed millions of lambs. The forecast may, however, be good for skiers.