Meeting Fallout – Manslaughter Trial – Charges Closer – Canterbury Floods – Russian Sub - Tiger Woods
- MEETING FALLOUT: Moves to Muzzle the Women’s Refuge leader have caused divisions in the Labour Caucus. The head of
Women’s Refuge said Maori Affairs Minister Pakerua Horomia had bullied her, but says she won’t be silenced. She said
Maori men are the biggest abusers in New Zealand. She said Mr Horomia asked her to stop making Maori look so bad, but
said the statistics tell that story for her. Mr Horomia wouldn’t be interviewed today, but released a statement which
said we need to stop emphasising the negative. Maori Labour MP John Tamihere said it’s time to stop sweeping the
problems of Maoridom under the carpet.
- MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL: The mother of a three year old boy who was beaten to death appeared in court during the trial for
manslaughter and cruelty . The court heard that the three-year-old was beaten to death by the woman’s partner, after
soiling himself. The woman said her partner slapped her son and she joined in. She said the beatings continued, and when
she returned from the toilet her son was dead.
- CHARGES CLOSER: Wairarapa police say they are narrowing down the list of suspects in the case of the toddler who was
abused, sexually violated and murdered.
- CANTERBURY FLOODS: More rain in Canterbury has hindered the clean-up after heavy rain in the weekend caused widespread
flooding. Many affected by the flooding have said warning systems need to be improved. They say they were not adequately
warned that the Selwyn River was about to burst its banks. The regional council have defended the warning system, saying
farmers know how to get their information.
Road damage from the storm is estimated at nearly $ 1 million. Repair work was already begun on a rail bridge destroyed
by high river levels.
- RUSSIAN SUB: Norwegian divers opened rear escape hatch on the crippled Russian submarine, Kursk, today. They found
nobody in the airlock section. No survivors have been found yet and hopes are fading. The First pictures of the sub were
taken as the Norwegian rescuers reached the sub. Close ups of the hatch the Russians said was too damaged to open showed
the hatch was undamaged. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is following the developments with tears in his eyes.
- TIGER WOODS: Tiger Wood’s win in the US PGA tournament in Kentucky has made him the first man since 1953 to win three
majors in a year. Tiger rated the performance as one of his best.