Energy Crisis – Tax Refunds – Treasury Leak – GM Report – Skyhawk Death – Paraglider Accident – Testicle Loss – David
Doherty
ENERGY CRISIS: Energy Minister Pete Hodgson is now warning things could get a lot worse than the power shortages of
1992. The Minister met with business and suppliers today and came up with some solutions. He said the weather pattern
indicates that the shortage could go on for a long while.
TAX REFUNDS: A group of tourism operators is taking Finance Minister Michael Cullen to court over millions of dollars in
tax refunds. Some tourism operators had cheques worth millions of dollars stopped just days before legislation changed.
They claim Michael Cullen and Inland Revenue have treated them unfairly, as some operators got the rebates.
TREASURY LEAK: An investigation is underway in Treasury after Jim Anderton claimed damaging and embarrassing leaks over
the NZ Post ‘People’s Bank’ were coming from Treasury. The leak went to ACT MP Rodney Hide, who released the information
into the public domain.
GM REPORT: Today, fallout from yesterday’s GM Commission report continued, with the Greens livid about the
recommendations of the report.
SKYHAWK DEATH: Pilot overwork is being blamed for the death of Squadron Leader Murray Nielsen in a Skyhawk accident in
Australia. Mechanical failure was ruled out, but any human error is being attributed to stress.
PARAGLIDER ACCIDENT: 12-year-old Nicola Collins’ family is keeping vigil beside her Christchurch hospital bed, after she
fell from a paraglider yesterday. The state of the equipment she was wearing is being investigated. Nicola is lucky to
be alive. The company says they have had an exemplary safety record so far. Police have taken custody of the harness she
was strapped into, and say they don’t know at this stage if charges will be laid.
TESTICLE LOSS: The Waikato rugby match that resulted in a 19-year-old player losing a testicle is the subject of a
police inquiry.
DAVID DOHERTY: David Doherty, the man awarded nearly $900,000 after being wrongly jailed for the rape of a girl, was
today back before court, charged with burglary.