Cancer Treatment – Apple Industry – Sea Search – Icy Roads – Michael Winteringham – Soy Sauce – Lake Omapere –
Indonesian Violence – Middle East – Yugoslav Parliament – Dairy Owner – Marie Jamieson
CANCER TREATMENT: A call has been made by National for Auckland cancer patients to be sent to Australia to get faster
radiation treatment. A woman had to have her breast removed after waiting too long for radiation treatment. National
says Auckland cancer patients are waiting 20 weeks for radiation treatment, and have called on the Health Minister fund
the moving of patients to Australia for treatment.
APPLE INDUSTRY: The Apple Industry’s foreign currency crisis is beginning to impact on the Hawkes Bay economy. Many
growers in Hawkes Bay have delayed winter pruning or have got out of the industry altogether. Agriculture Minister Jim
Sutton has sought legal advice over whether apple exporter Enza has broken law in charging growers for foreign exchange
losses.
SEA SEARCH: The Navy frigate Te Kaha is searching an area north of NZ where a distress signal was picked up this
morning. At this point it is not known what vessels are in the area and who could have sent out the call.
ICY ROADS: Police are appealing to motorist to drive more carefully in icy conditions, which have taken two lives this
week and contributed to other accidents.
MICHAEL WINTERINGHAM: State Services Commissioner Michael Winteringham is now appearing before a Parliamentary Select
Committee and is being asked to explain a remark he made at the Christine Rankin case, where he said he may have
suppressed sensitive information. Mr Winteringham said he made a rather ham-fisted reply to a question and regrets the
impression that may have been made.
SOY SAUCE: The Health Ministry is proposing emergency food standards for soy based sauces following a British study that
found high levels of cancer causing chemicals.
LAKE OMAPERE: Scientists say there is no mystery about the introduced weed growth choking shallow Lake Omapere and say
grass carp should be introduced before Spring to control the growth. The Environment Ministry is proposing no action.
INDONESIAN VIOLENCE: Police in Indonesia have confirmed at least 18 people have been killed in an outbreak of violence
on an island.
MIDDLE EAST: The Spiritual leader of the militant Palestinian Hamas movement says it will use all means to protect
itself after Israel confirmed it was extending its policy of assassinating Palestinian militants.
YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT: The extradition of former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic continues to shake the Yugoslav
federation. The Prime Minister resigned in protest and the collapse of his administration has now been accepted by the
federal parliament.
DAIRY OWNER: A 64-year-old Wanganui dairy owner fought off two attackers who attempted to rob his store.
MARIE JAMIESON: Police investigating death of Marie Jamieson have distributed leaflets over a more extensive area than
previously in an attempt to get more information.