Indonesian Crisis – Avalanche Scare – Low Sulfur Diesel – Ferry Backlog – Tauranga Bridge
INDONESIAN CRISIS: Indonesia is about to sack President Abdurrahman Wahid. He declared a state of emergency to stop
parliament impeaching him, a plan that has almost certainly failed. His deputy Megawati Sukarnoputri is the likely
successor. Parliament overwhelmingly voted to reject Wahid’s decree and police and military look to do so to. In New
Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark said she was distressed by developments. Auckland City Councillor Maire Leadbetter,
arrested in Indonesia earlier in the year, says Indonesia will fall further into corruption under Megawati.
AVALANCHE SCARE: There were fears that skiers may have been swept away on a Canterbury ski field, but search and rescue
teams are now confident no one was caught in the snow slide on the Craggy Burns ski field. Mountain experts are warning
of avalanche conditions in ski areas in the region.
LOW SULFUR DIESEL: There are signs of a solution to the diesel debate. After talks with the government, the oil industry
has agreed to a compromise. There will be two six week trials of lower sulfur diesel – one in Auckland cutting sulfur to
1000 parts per million as lobbied for by the Auckland Regional Council; the other a six week nationwide trial of a
smaller reduction in sulfur.
FERRY BACKLOG: Tranz Rail has cleared the backlog of ferry passengers stranded over the weekend because of stormy
conditions in the Cook Strait.
TAURANGA BRIDGE: The last road toll on the Tauranga bridge was paid last night. The $1 toll, has netted millions and
caused widespread resentment in Tauranga.