Great White Alert – Paralympic Cheats – Waitangi Navyless – Flood Damaged Cars – Date Rape - Cop Bashing – Child Death
– Businessman Assault – Protest Damages Claim – La Nina Summer Ahead
GREAT WHITE ALERT: Whitianga and now Gisborne is playing host to a great white shark. The shark is five point five
metres long. A fisherman was at a reef 12kms out from Gisborne when he took pictures of the shark. Earlier a shark was
seen off Whitianga. The council is warning people to keep away from the shark. A DOC officer says it is possible for the
shark to mistake a diver for a diver. Residents of Gisborne seem keen to keep away from the shark.
PARALYMPIC CHEATS: The Paralympic movement has been rocked by an allegation of cheating. A member of the Spanish
intellectually disabled basketball team says that they weren’t disabled. One of the team was a journalist and his
publication says that officials knew. Paralympics NZ say they were unaware of any cheating. Spain is also accused of
cheating in swimming and table tennis. Australians think that other teams were also cheating.
WAITANGI NAVYLESS: The Government has stopped the Navy going to Waitangi next Waitangi Day. Helen Clark says that if the
government is not there then it would be odd if the Navy was. Labour MP Dover Samuels says that Clarks latest move is a
mean one and runs against the spirit of Waitangi Day. Jenny Shipley says the PM has no business directing such a ban.
The navy cannot comment on policy decisions by government. The Minister of Defence says the decision is consistent with
government policy. Some members of the Government Maori Caucus may go to celebrations at Waitangi.
FLOOD DAMAGED CARS: The LTSA say they have serious concerns about the safety of flood damaged vehicles which have been
imported to NZ. The LTSA say they have identified and flagged 180 damaged vehicles. The executive of the Independent
Dealers Assn says that this is another nail in the coffin for an otherwise reputable industry. One importer says he will
not bring them in. Dealers want the cars sent back to Japan.
DATE RAPE: A Wellington Court has heard evidence today about Glen William Hooker allegedly drugging and raping a woman
in Wellington. Police later raided Hookers house finding drugs.
COP BASHING: Constable Shane Lacy is showing signs of recovering from a severe blow to the head in Twizel.
CHILD DEATH: Police are investigating the death of a child in Auckland.
BUSINESSMAN ASSAULT: A man has been charged with the assault of an Auckland businessman who could not recall how he was
attacked on his way home from the office.
PROTEST DAMAGES CLAIM: A group of 40 students are claiming $2 million of damages against the government for police
mistreatment at an education protest last year.
LA NINA: Expect a La Nina summer like last year says Augie Auer. The Southern Oscillation is surging ahead. Skiers here
know that La Nina is good for them. Expect more cyclones this summer.