Cold Snap – Thoroughly Deserved? – Wasting Time – Gym Fire – Dropping Out
COLD SNAP: A severe cold snap is tonight threatening power conservation measures. A cold front is sweeping up the
country. Mercury Energy says the only way we are going to make decent power savings is to ration hot water. Mercury has
also reduced the warning time for price rises to 48 hours. Last week the country made good progress towards the 10
percent savings target, particularly in the North Island, but on Saturday as cold hit the savings dropped to less than
two per cent. This cold snap hit Dunedin at around 2pm this afternoon. The Southern power company is expecting a big
surge in power use as the cold is expected to get much worse. The southerly isn’t expected to bring in much rain –
desperately needed in the southern hydro lakes.
THOROUGHLY DESERVED?: Police are on the defensive over an award given to West Coast constable Terence Hunt, who is the
subject of an investigation. Coaster Johnny Menzies claims he was the subject of brutality at Hunt’s hands, and is
planning to sue police.
WASTING TIME: Heather Tonkin, the kiwi woman who fathered a child to Princess Anne’s husband, has escaped a conviction
over allegedly wasting police time. The charge against her was withdrawn.
GYM FIRE: The Principal of a Hamilton high school where a $5 million gymnasium was torched over the weekend is calling
for a get-tough approach to teenage crime. Four teenagers appeared in court charged with arson relating to the incident.
DROPPING OUT: Teachers and employers are trying to find out why one in five students drop out of school without getting
a qualification. 35 per cent of Maori students; 26 percent of Pacific Island students; 14 per cent of Pakeha students
and 10 per cent of Asian students leave school unqualified.