INDEPENDENT NEWS

TV3

Published: Wed 27 Jun 2001 07:08 PM
Lead Item
Christine Rankin's man stood by her today, giving evidence of how his wife now lives
with fear, and in desperation. Rankin's husband took the stand in the $818,000 bid to get
his wife's job back. Back to court for Christine Rankin, but all eyes were on this man,
Allan Hogg, former civil servant of 30 years, now Senior Manager in Customer Services at
AXA Investment, and husband of Christine Rankin. "Christine told me of the time when
she was spat at, I have been with her at the time when people have referred to her as an
effing bitch, or have yelled at her from trucks from cars, and on one occasion we feared
for our physical safety because of the reaction that people had around her to her,"
says Hogg. Hogg told the court that reaction has changed their lives, probably forever.
Parliament Debate
The Rankin case spilled over into Parliament again today. Opposition leader Jenny
Shipley accused Prime Minister Helen Clark of double standards by allowing sexist
behaviour from Social Services Minister Steve Maharey. Jenny Shipley's target was an
absent Helen Clark - for not defending Christine Rankin.
Missing Patient
A large team of searchers is scouring the Otago Coastline for a Dunedin psychiatric
patient who's been missing for 24 hours. 26 year old Amos Cameron suffers from autism.
When last seen he was wearing nothing but a pair of red underpants and he's so timid he
could be hiding from the searchers. Police and search and rescue are tonight concentrating
on the beaches, bush and buildings
Qantas Money
The receivers of Tasman Pacific airlines - which ran the failed Qantas New Zealand -
say all the secured creditors will be paid. Qantas New Zealand went bust in march -
putting staff out of work and disrupting the travel plans of thousands of passengers. The
receivers say the BNZ will be paid back almost $10 million and staff will get up to $6000
pay.
Grapes
The grape harvest is down 11% this year - after a terrible summer in 2 of our 3 biggest
wine making regions. A bad frost is being blamed for cutting production in Hawkes Bay and
Gisborne. But the industry's hopeful it won't hurt our premium export varieties. At the
Kemblefield Vineyard they're looking ahead to next year after a disappointing summer saw
them harvest a fraction of their usual crop.
Save Our Southerner
South islanders are springing in to action to save the Southerner train service between
Christchurch and Invercargill. Tranzrail's selling most of its passenger operation to an
Australian company, but it's not interested in four other marginal services, including the
Southerner. But moves are underway to keep the Southerner on track.
Water Stealer
A South Canterbury farmer's been fined $4000 for stealing river water to irrigate his
farm. Mark Holmes admitted stealing nearly 900 cubic meters of water from the Rakaia
River, but said he only took it when the river's level was rising. It's the first time
Environment Canterbury's charged anyone for stealing river water,
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