Macraes Mine – Burton Trial – Baby Exhumation – Asylum Seekers – Warriors Through
MACRAES MINE: Coasters and conservationists faced off outside parliament today over Conservation Minister Sandra Lee’s
vetoing of Australian mining company GRD Macraes plan to extend a planned gold mine in Reefton on the West Coast. Lee
addressed the crowd. A delegation went to the minister’s office. GRD Macraes are meeting with Sandra Lee tonight. During
question time, opposition parties tried to embarrass Sandra Lee and the Government over the issue, not altogether
successfully. GRD Macraes are expected to make a modified proposal following the meeting.
BURTON TRIAL: Queenstown man Mark Burton told police he was pretty sure he killed his mother, schoolteacher Patricia
Burton, but he can’t remember it. He is standing trial for his mother’s murder. Both the Crown and the defence agree he
killed her, but he is pleading not guilty on grounds of insanity. Mr Burton told police he hadn’t taken his medication
for schizophrenia and had been drinking beer when it happened.
BABY EXHUMATION: A baby’s body has been dug from her father’s grave, ending a four-year legal battle by her mother to
have her exhumed and be buried separately. The exhumation has upset the town of Masterton, and most of the people who
observed the exhumation were against it.
ASYLUM SEEKERS: A ship carrying more than 430 mostly Afghani asylum seekers is still stranded off Christmas Island in
Australian territory on the Norwegian ship Tampa. Australia won’t take them, nor will Norway. Indonesia says they will
take them, but won’t go to the ship. Many on board are reported to be sick and exhausted. Some of the asylum seekers are
hunger striking.
WARRIORS THROUGH: The NZ Warriors rugby league team are due back in Auckland in an hour, after drawing with the
Melbourne Storm and securing a place in the playoffs. It’s the first time the Warriors have made the finals.