Taupo Rescue – Olympics – Roumanian Gymnast – Thunder Storms – Forecourt Fury – Greek Ferry Disaster – S26 – Yugoslavia
– East Timor – School Guinea Pigs
TAUPO RESCUE: Brian Pikering is the hero of a rescue in the Kaimanawa ranges today. John Painting describes being caught
in a blizzard. Experienced tramper Brian Pikering stumbled across John and his son by chance. The long ordeal ended with
a helicopter ride back to base. Pickering is a reluctant hero and does not want to make the matter into a big deal. TV3
has learned that police told the Paintings that they should not go into the hills that day. John Painting says he didn’t
know the storm was coming.
OLYMPICS: Dutch beat Spain keeping the NZ Hockey Team’s hopes alive today but a moment ago the Women’s Hockey Team was
down 5 to 1 to Argentina. The NZ Soling crew is in a playoff for semi-finals. Toni Hodgkinson has failed to qualify for
the final in the 1500 metres.
ROUMANIAN GYMNAST: Gold medal winning gymnast Raducan has been stripped of a medal for taking a headache pill. Several
of Raducan’s team mates have returned their medals in disgust. She is attempting to get her medal back and has lots of
sympathy. Meanwhile a positive dope test for a hammer thrower is continuing to cause problems for officials . Olympic
officials maintain that they are winning the war on drugs.
THUNDER STORMS: Driving rain and thunder struck towards the end of Day 10 at the Olympics.
FORECOURT FURY: A motorist angered by petrol prices today drove through a petrol station shop front in Auckland. BP says
it is concerned about angry motorists every where. They think motorists are being unreasonable.
GREEK FERRY DISASTER: 28 bodies have been found and 52 bodies are missing from a ferry accident in the Agean Sea.
S26: Police clash with protestors and smash McDonalds in Prague. All day Prague resembled a battle ground. Protestors
used the paving stones of the ancient city to attack the IMF and World Bank who they accuse of hurting the poor. The
police would not say how many protestors they have arrested. Delegates at the conference say they understand the
concerns of the protestors. Meetings of the IMF and World Bank will resume in the morning – evening NZT.
YUGOSLAVIA: The opposition candidate is claiming victory in the Yugoslavian elections.
EAST TIMOR: The UN is adopting a get tough approach to militia in East Timor. NZ and Portuguese troops have been
involved in fire fights with militia. It is not known whether militia were injured in the clash with Portuguese troops.
NZ troops shot one militia member yesterday. The UN has now adopted an active policy against the militia.
SCHOOL GUINEA PIGS: A small demonstration and a furry one. Guinea pigs used to criticise a new qualification programme
about to be introduced into secondary schools. The Minister of Education says it is an amusing break away group that is
involved in the protests, with amusing tactics. The PPTA says there has been lots of consultation with teachers on the
NCEA, the replacement for School Cert.