INDEPENDENT NEWS

The Independent, 22 November 2000

Published: Thu 23 Nov 2000 01:43 PM
The Independent, 22 November 2000
Front page:
- Securities Commission and Serious Fraud Office non-publication of names at the centre of the Fletcher Challenge insider trading investigation makes pursuit of these individuals almost impossible;
- Former National Party president Geoff Thompson and two other directors of financially troubled Waipuna International Ltd - marketer of a patented steam-based system for killing weeds - face charges under the Financial Reporting Act for failing to produce company accounts for the last two years;
- Wi Huata, husband of Act MP Donna Awatere-Huata, takes on ENZA by applying for separate apple export licence for "Maori-branded apples";
elsewhere in the paper:
- Westpac Trust Household Savings Indicator shows an estimated $NZ700 million of net worth was wiped off NZ households' balance sheets in the September quarter. Falling house prices and higher debt to blame;
- slow appointment process for the ceo of Industry New Zealand sees potential head and close Anderton confidante, Rik Hart, take job at Hutt City Council instead. Anderton lured Hart back to NZ from Melbourne to help set up the "jobs machine" agency;
- Australian union opposition delays mutual recognition of civil aviation standards, slowing progress in implementing new open skies agreement;
- Auckland Airport backs down somewhat on new, higher fees;
- Canterbury party officials of NZ First are enraged at being described variously as cancerous and dysfunctional at last weekend's party conference, where restructuring was agreed;
- decision expected today on action to halt the $227 million merger of 27 Waltus property syndicates;
- business leaders divided over value of Brunei APEC summit;
- Lyttelton boaties still optimistic their storm-shattered marina will be rebuilt, despite developer's receivership;
- Fiji Labour Party claims today's Budget is illegal, on the basis that the Qarase Govt is not legally constituted;
- feature: what will the West Coast do with its $92 million?
- political commentatorColin James makes an unexpected appearance, with a full page prognostication on the fortunes of PM Helen Clark;
- column on copyright asks whether it is really against the law to photograph a hobbit? A film in production does not necessarily have the same copyright attached as the finished product.
ends
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