Anderton Investigation – Air NZ – Shell Stations – Simpson Trial – Baby Exhumation
ANDERTON INVESTIGATION: Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton is being accused of using taxpayer money to drum up business
for New Zealand Post’s People’s Bank. ACT MP Rodney Hide has asked Parliament’s Speaker to investigate whether Jim
Anderton has breached parliamentary privilege, and says he can’t get involved in commercial enterprise. Jim Anderton may
have to pay back postage money for pamphlets paid for with taxpayer money.
AIR NZ: Cabinet has been considering ways to help NZ through its cash crisis, and one of those options could be loaning
the airline money, as it did when it bailed out BNZ 10 years ago. Jenny Shipley says the Government should lift the 25
per cent foreign ownership cap to allow Singapore Airlines to take a 49 per cent stake and raise the cash privately. The
Government says there will be a decision next week, in time for an shareholder’s meeting, where a big loss is expected
to be announced.
SHELL STATIONS: Motorist could see less of Shell in the future, despite announcing a big profit. They say they are
making less money at the pump and more drilling, and are talking about closing up to 50 pumps around the country.
SIMPSON TRIAL: GP Christopher Simpson is on trial for the murder of his terminally ill 82-year-old mother, Marjorie
Simpson. The defence doesn’t dispute that Christopher Simpson ended his mother’s life. The Crown says the killing was
not euthanasia. The trial is expected to run for four weeks.
BABY EXHUMATION: Plans to dig up baby Victoria Williams, who is buried in the arms of her father, and bury her in a
separate grave, are raising emotions in Masterton. The exhumation is set for tomorrow.