Health Treaty Clause – One Tree Hill – School Zoning – WTO Lamb Decision – Internet Sex – East Timor – Ivory Coast –
Fiji – UK Rail
HEALTH TREATY CLAUSE: PM Helen Clark says that Maori will not receive preferential treatment under a Treaty Clause in
Health legislation. Helen Clark says the government is working on new wording for the clause. National says the clause
will be divisive. The comments follow from concerns from the Race Relations Conciliator about the clause.
ONE TREE HILL: Last minute preparations are underway for the removal of the Monterey Pine on One Tree Hill in Auckland.
The summit is closed and guarded.
SCHOOL ZONING: The Minister of Education has received a spate of complaints from parents who have not been able to get
their children into the school of their choice. He has received around 90 letters from aggrieved students. Some schools
are concerned the system is inflexible.
WTO LAMB DECISION: The WTO has ruled in favour of the NZ and Australian governments in relation to lamb access to the US
in an interim decision. If the US fails to comply within time frames then NZ and Australia will be authorised to
retaliate.
INTERNET SEX: The Minister of Broadcasting Marian Hobbs says that regulation of the internet may not be practical or
feasible. The comments came in response to plans in Christchurch to broadcast live sex.
EAST TIMOR: The army’s senior officer in East Timor says that militia are continuing to cause problems for East
Timorese. The comments following the shooting of a third militia member by NZ forces. Around 100 militia are believed to
be in East Timor.
IVORY COAST: The military leader of the Ivory Coast has apparently fled the country following a popular uprising against
him. Earlier the former military dictator claimed to have won an election. It is not yet clear that this revolt will
lead to democratic rule.
FIJI: Fiji’s Vice President is to act as the President of Fiji for two weeks. The Minister of Justice says his
appointment is automatic when the President leaves the country for medical treatment.
UK RAIL: Rail passengers in Northern Britain are facing disruption over the closure of a main line to Glasgow for urgent
examinations by rail engineers.