Electricity Prices – Whale Sanctuary – Super – MP’s Pay – Maori TV – Sri-Lanka – DHB Elections – Prostrate Cancer
ELECTRICITY PRICES: Electricity price increases are causing some manufacturers to cut production and some small
employers to turn off the heating. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce wants the government to bring together affected
parties. “I am talking about action not issues.”
WHALE SANCTUARY: The Minister of Conservation Sandra Lee is disappointed that NZ and Australia’s South Pacific Whale
Sanctuary proposal has fallen short of the 75% majority it needed at the IWC for a second time. The proposal had four
too few votes.
SUPER: The Opposition has begun its attack on the Government’s proposed multi-billion superannuation fund. National’s
Bill English stressed that the fund will only pay 14% of the costs of super at its peak. He also said that left leaning
groups did not understand it. Government Minister Steve Maharey said that a “war between generations” would be the
result of a failure to address the problem.
MP’S PAY: MPs will consider over the next month changes to the system that sets and manages their pay and allowances.
The Auditor General David McDonald has set out options for change in a report.
MAORI TV: The Government may face further legal action over the content of its proposed Maori TV Channel. Some groups
are complaining that the Maori language channel will also have English Language programming.
SRI-LANKA: The Sri-Lankan Government has launched air strikes against the Tamil Tigers after a partial suicide attack on
Colombo’s airport. At least 13 rebels died in the attack as well as seven airforce personnel.
DHB ELECTIONS: Special interest groups hope to use the Health Board elections to advance their groups aims. Under the
health reforms DHBs are responsible for primary care as well as hospital management. Plunket, the Greens and the
Alliance are also planning an approach to the elections.
PROSTRATE CANCER: The former South African President Nelson Mandela has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. However
his doctor says that it is unlikely to affect his life span. Bishop Desmond Tutu is also battling prostrate cancer.