PM Says She Is Not A Grinch – TV3 Poll – National Mail – Dog Shoots Man – Dexter Dies – Economy Class Syndrome – Lily
Bing Depositions – Car Race Charges
PM SAYS NOT A GRINCH: The PM denies she is the Grinch who stole Christmas from her neighbourhood. She says the $2500
cost of Christmas lights for her house is too much. Last year Jenny Shipley lit the tree for the first time. The PM says
she is in a no-win situation. The story will either be that she spends $2500 of taxpayers money on Christmas lights or
she will annoy a few people in Tinakori. An offer by Mike Gibson to pay for them himself has been dismissed as a
political gesture.
TV3 POLL: Economic indicators for Government very good….
Two weeks till Christmas the government has a Christmas present. A bounce back in the economy. 68% expect the economy to
improve – up 24%. Only 17% say it will deteriorate down 24%. 33% say Cullen is doing well, 26% poorly. The PM says the
facts have now entered the story, and that is what is shown in the poll. They are that the economy is improving.
Meanwhile 68% believe there is a brain drain and 24% say there isn’t one.
TV3 POLL: Party Vote
Labour 46 up 2
National 38 down 1
Green 4.9
Alliance 3.4
ACT 2.8
NZ First 2.7
TV3 POLL: Preferred PM
Helen Clark 31 up 3
Jenny Shipley 14 no change
Bill English 6 no change
TV3 POLL: PM Ratings
77% say Clark is capable leader
The PM improved her ratings in most questions.
POLL: JANE YOUNG: Helen Clark has got rid of the expression “Closing the Gaps”. Now they are going to be “Reducing
Inequalities”. They will be taunted for this. Meanwhile they say the message is finally getting through that the sky is
not falling on our heads.
NATIONAL MAIL: National Mail is closing up shop after trying to compete with NZ Mail.
DOG SHOOTS MAN: Stinky stood on the trigger of a shotgun shattering his masters foot. Man doesn’t know if he will be
able to use his foot again due to nerve damage. The hunter tied up his leg and slid onto a road where he was later
picked up by passers by. Stinky is a friendly dog and his master doesn’t blame him.
DEXTER: Mark Leishman’s dog Dexter dies aged 15 years.
ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME: Air NZ is waiting to hear from a passenger who is suing the airline for deep vein thrombosis,
economy class syndrome. The airline hasn’t heard anything about it yet but. Passengers from NZ are more at risk than
most because of long distances they fly. The plaintiff lawyer says that warnings are necessary – that is the issue here.
Doctors say moving every hour will help.
LILY BING DEPOSITIONS: A depositions hearing is underway in the Wairarapa for three accused charged with the
manslaughter and failure to provide care for 23-month-old toddler Lily Bing. All evidence heard in court today has been
suppressed. The defence counsel argued there should be no publicity to ensure the accused receive a fair trial, as it
would be very difficult to find an impartial jury given media interest in the case. The prosecution argued that unless
there are exceptional circumstances justice must be done in public.
CAR RACE CHARGES: Four volunteer officials facing charges over the death of two spectators in a Classic Car Race in
Queenstown are seeking to have the charges struck out due to long delays in the police taking their case. The defendants
are planning on raising money to pay for the defence of the four from a $10 levy on race entrants.