Tourism Industry – Whitianga Canal – Yelash Row – Campaign Slugger – Mr Rooster
- TOURISM INDUSTRY: Tourism NZ plans to turn Tourism into out biggest money maker. It proposes creating a tourism
ministry, last seen more than a decade ago. The Government is wary of too much tourism, as some areas are being
overused. Tourism is currently only second to the dairy industry. Tourists currently spend $16 billion a year, Tourism
NZ wants to grow that to $27billion. Tourism bosses also want to use the Silver Fern brand. Small centres like Kaikoura
are straining under the number of tourists visiting. Maintaining the environment is a key to the reality matching the
clean green promotion.
- WHITIANGA CANAL: The stalled Whitianga canal project could be helped along by a quick law change proposed by Deputy PM
Jim Anderton. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act stands in the way of the development at this point. Whitianga residents
are urging the Government to act quickly.
- YELASH ROW: The Yelash row won’t go away. Phil Goff and Winston Peters both tabled papers in the House today that they
both say proves the other side requested the confidentiality clause in the Prime Minister’s payment to actor John Yelash
for incorrectly calling the man, who is convicted of manslaughter, a murderer. The opposition claims Margaret Wilson
misled Parliament when she told the house Mr Yelash requested the amount of the payment be kept secret.
- CAMPAIGN SLUGGER: Britain’s Deputy PM punched out a demonstrator after he was egged and then assaulted by a
demonstrator on the campaign trail. A farmer amongst the demonstrator said the deputy PM threw the first punch. Film of
the incident show the punch was a direct retaliation to the close-quarter egging.
- MR ROOSTER: A rooster has caused an uproar on the Kapiti Coast. Mr Rooster, as he was known to Raumati Kindergarten
children, was shot after the fowl contravened a council bylaw. The children held a funeral service.