Hawke’s Bay – NGC Loss – Power Crisis – Avalanche – Slashing Ritual – Refugee Air Lift – Surfing USA With Sharks
HAWKE’S BAY: Hawkes Bay farmers have suffered huge lamb losses in the recent cold blast. Freezing temperatures were too
cold for lambs at the height of the lambing season. Over 10,000 dead lambs will cost around $750,000. However the tanner
is doing well collecting many more pelts than usual.
NGC LOSS: The Natural Gas Corporation has called a $300 million exploration of electricity retailing a disaster. The
decision to buy Transalta was fundamentally flawed say analysts. NGC was forced to sell all its retail customers as a
result of the power crisis. NGC has posted a $301 million loss for the year, mostly comprised of a $311 million abnormal
loss from its foray into the electricity market. NGC was formed as an SOE in 1987. The country expects to move back to
profitability quickly.
POWER CRISIS: The Government has revealed it has a plan in place in case we miss the 10% for ten weeks target and the
crisis deepens. Auckland school children have been enlisted today in the campaign to save power. The storm battered the
savings average down to 5.2% today. NZers have held back power usage, but not enough. Contingency plans include cutting
back hot water says Hodgson. We are trying to avoid them but.
AVALANCHE: The Mountain Safety Council is condemning the actions of a man killed in an off piste avalanche. There were
prime conditions for avalanches with fresh snow on top of a crust. Mates mourned the loss of their friend today. Both
indicator boards on the mountain warned of the danger.
SLASHING RITUAL: Auckland police had warned the organisers of a Muslim stomach slashing ritual not to do it . A forty
year old Muslim male is in hospital following the ceremony. The priest who wielded the knife was the elder brother of
the victim who had flown into the country recently. Police say permission was sought to conduct the ceremony. They were
told not to perform the ceremony. The family refused to speak to the media today. Most of the Auckland Muslim community
do not recognise the ceremony. The man who is the victim is undergoing emergency surgery tonight for an infection.
REFUGEE AIR LIFT: An Australian airforce airlift has been called in to move asylum seekers from Christmas Island to Port
Headland more are expected on the island shortly. The opposition leader Kim Beazley says more needs to be done at the
real front line – by the coastguard.
SURFING USA WITH SHARKS: Americans are risking life and limb taking to the surf in the US say life guards after a rash
of attacks.