The New Zealand Herald

Immigration Stuff Up Again- Parole Plan- Anklet Off- Patients Wait Longer- Ralston Replaced- Computer Quals- Group Speaks Out- Family Court Judge- Play Screened

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IMMIGRATION STUFF UP AGAIN: Hosea Nau was jailed for nearly 36 hours and threatened with deportation to Tonga after an immigration foul-up. The 26-year-old Aucklander's case follows the wrongful deportation last week of a Philippine family, the Milas.

- PAROLE PLAN: Violent offenders may be sent home on parole in electronic shackles as part of a plan to curb alarming re-imprisonment rates among the country's toughest criminals. Figures issued yesterday show that nearly 75 per cent of maximum and "high-medium" security prisoners land back inside within 12 months of being released.

- ANKLET OFF: A Mt Maunganui woman on home detention has been found in a hotel, her electronic anklet hidden under her trousers. The 31-year-old, who had her two children aged 8 and 10 with her, had been allowed to leave her house to take her daughter to a hospital appointment on Monday.

- PATIENTS WAIT LONGER: More than 130 heart patients have to wait even longer for life-saving surgery while officials haggle over fine print in a contract for new Government cash. Green Lane Hospital revealed last week that 137 patients with potentially life-threatening conditions had been forced to wait longer than the recommended six months for bypass surgery. Some patients with urgent conditions, who would usually have an operation within two weeks, have also had to wait beyond the recommended time.

- RALSTON REPLACED: Bill Ralston has been replaced as editor of Metro magazine by the publication's founder, Warwick Roger. Ralston, who took over as editor in April 1997, and just weeks ago saw his main television role thrown into doubt, will remain with the magazine for now as editor-at-large.

- COMPUTER QUALS: New Zealand's future computing geniuses face a hurdle before their careers have started because they cannot gain a senior school qualification in the subject. Computing teachers say students are being deterred from studying information technology because it is not offered at Bursary level.

- GROUP SPEAKS OUT: The head of a Maori commission which the Government wound up after the election can see no political will to eradicate unemployment. Maori Employment and Training commission chairman Rongo Wetere says it is pointless tackling endemic unemployment among his people without declaring war on all joblessness.

- FAMILY COURT JUDGE: Conflict in marriage - rather than divorce - could be the main reason for maladjusted children, says the principal Family Court Judge, Patrick Mahony. Judge Mahony made the comments in Wellington at a Barnardos forum about children and absent parents and how to bring them together.

- PLAY SCREENED: A family affected by youth suicide say a controversial television programme on the issue should be screened. Leigh Kelly and her daughter Jo May took part in a panel discussion that will screen on TV3 tonight after a dramatised play about three young people and the circumstances that led to their committing suicide.

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