Taiwan Plane Crash – Singapore Airlines – Bad Landing – Ruth Dyson – Topcat Departs – Student Found Dead – Drugs Bust –
Panadol – Stop Smoking Subsidy – Fried Food Diet Training
TAIWAN PLANE CRASH: Two NZers have survived an airline crash in Taiwan. Singapore Airlines has identified the two
passengers as coming from Wellington and Auckland. The jumbo broke into three pieces on impact. 100 people are feared
dead. Survivors say the plane seemed at full power when they heard a large noise. Others wondered whether the plane was
moving too much on takeoff. One passenger said they asked the hostess whether it was safe to take off. Singapore
Airlines think the plane hit something on the take off run causing the pilot to try to abort the take off. Most injured
suffered from serious burns. The plane was three years old. While the wind was bad it was within limits.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES: Singapore Airlines has been flying out of NZ for several years. The CEO of Singapore Airlines was in
NZ when the accident happened. SA has a 25% stake in Air New Zealand. The boss said that the airline would spare no
efforts to look after its passengers and their families. The crash is a shock to plane expert Les Bloxam – who says it
is fortunate that the plane was so empty when it crashed. The airline will pay $25,000 US to the families of those
killed.
BAD LANDING: Passengers on a Chinese Airbus also had a scary landing in Australia today.
RUTH DYSON: Political attention remained on Ruth Dyson today. Dyson is now catching cabs to work. National is showing no
signs of going soft on the Minister. MP Gerry Brownlee wants Helen Clark to get Ruth Dyson’s work checked by a sober
minister. Clark says that it is a bit rich to complain when Jenny Shipley herself admitted that under Jim Bolger there
was a fair bit of whiskey drunk in the Beehive. This is not the first time drinking in Parliament has attracted
attention – quote from Nandor Tanczos. Dyson is still too upset to talk to journalists.
TOPCAT DEPARTS: The Topcat fast ferry is leaving NZ citing speed restrictions, fuel costs and the weak dollar.
Marlborough District Council is unrepentant about the speed rules. Around 50,000 people with bookings for holiday plans
have had their plans cancelled. Tranzrail says it cannot guarantee that people can travel on . The Road Transport Forum
blames predatory pricing by Tranzrail for the demise of Topcat. Tranzrail is planning on price increases.
STUDENT FOUND DEAD: The body of a missing student has been found in the Waikato river by police with no suspicious
circumstances.
DRUGS BUST: Lots of arrests have been made in a drugs bust by police. The bust is expected to dent Auckland’s illegal
drug trade.
PANADOL: Manufacturers of Panadol capsules are withdrawing the product for fear of tampering.
STOP SMOKING SUBSIDY: Subsidised nicotein replacement therapy can be requested from the government on 0800 778 778.
FRIED FOOD DIET TRAINING: Pacific Islander diet and exercise education is underway in Auckland. The 5+ a day campaign
has had a big turnout. 6% of pakeha 20% of Maori and 23% of Pacific Islanders have deep fried food five times a week.
Children eat their costumes at a campaign function.