Tuvalu students mourn dead schoolgirls 

By Fleur Robinson

Just last Christmas, Peniamina Kofe was at home in Tuvalu,
laughing and joking with his cousin.

Today, from his room in Dunedin, he is mourning her death.

Mr Kofe's cousin was one of the 18 schoolgirls who died when fire
swept through their locked dormitories at Motufoua Secondary
School in Tuvalu. Tuvalu is made up of nine atolls almost 1000km
north of Fiji.

Mr Kofe (19), a student at Otago Polytechnic, first learned of the
fire on the Internet but said he was not convinced it was true until
his girlfriend e-mailed him from Fiji.

Another of his cousins, who is also studying in Dunedin, asked if she
could stay the night at his place on Saturday as she was too scared
to sleep at her own place after hearing of the fire. The other five
Tuvalu students in Dunedin also stayed over, holding an informal
memorial service there, he said.

"We got together to mourn in the Tuvalu way and try to get rid of
the sadness. It's hard because it's a small community of people. We
all know each other so when something like this happens, it's
probably sadder."

As well as knowing many of the girls who died, he also knew the
burned dormitory well as he was housemaster there in 1998 and it
was lucky more girls had not died. 

"There should have been more than 18 [dead] if the house was fully secure." 

The boys' dormitories were not usually locked at night time but security was stricter for the girls and
windows and doors were locked, he said.

The Government in Tuvalu had ordered no work for a week while the nation mourned the deaths, he said.
Another of the seven Tuvalese students in Dunedin had lost a cousin in the tragedy but because they were
all on government scholarships, they could not afford to go home unless the government sponsor paid, he
said.

"I want to send my regards to the mothers of the students who died and to all in Tuvalu."
  Locking school students in their dormitories at night is not an uncommon practice in New Zealand.

Justin Boyle, the principal of St Kevins College in Oamaru, which boards both male and female students, said
in an interview yesterday both dormitories were locked at night but could be opened easily from the inside.

An additional security system was in place for the girls' dormitory which had been set up to discourage
prowlers, after some were reported there. Mr Boyle said incidents like the Tuvalu fire provided an
opportunity to review one's own procedures but he was confident of the measures put in place at St Kevins
which were reviewed recently.

  NZ expresses sympathy - page 2

Distress call prompts search 

By Kerry Williamson

Queenstown: A ham radio operator in Canada yesterday sparked a search and rescue in New Zealand after
picking up a CB radio distress call from two climbers missing in the Southern Lakes.

A helicopter searched for the men, one of whom is believed to be seriously injured, in Fiordland last night
after the Canadian man heard what he believed to be their distress call.

He told police in Christchurch that he heard a message about 5.30pm NZ time from two climbers saying they
were missing in the Queenstown-Fiordland area.

The message said the climbers were lost in snow at about 900m and that one was seriously injured and in
need of assistance.

He thought the pair were Frenchmen who spoke good English, but with accents.

Sergeant Roy Appley, of Christchurch, yesterday told the Otago Daily Times that police were taking the
alert seriously and believed the Canadian man's claims were genuine.

A helicopter was dispatched from Milford last evening with police from Te Anau on board, and Department
of Conservation staff in Glenorchy and Te Anau were asked to check tramping logs.

The helicopter search was expected to continue until dark last night, and will possibly resume this morning.

"We've got no reason not to believe this guy is genuine in his reports," said Sgt Appley.

"That's why we have kicked off a search. It is definitely unusual but we are obliged to make whatever
inquiries we can."

Sgt Appley said police were aware of two people tramping in "some pretty treacherous terrain" in Fiordland
and were keen to locate them.

However, he was unsure if the two were the missing pair. He said the search was "like looking for a needle
in a haystack".

The Canadian ham operator initially alerted a friend in Auckland after hearing the message. Police were
notified and were in regular contact with the Canadian man last night.

Sgt Appley said radio operators in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin had heard the man's message to
Auckland and had also alerted police.

He said it was not unusual for ham operators to pick up messages from around the world. However, it is
understood it is unusual for a CB radio message to transmit so far.

Police in Queenstown were notified of the distress message last evening and were helping to organise the
search and rescue operation.

Sgt Frank Wielemaker described the search as "pretty mysterious".

"We just have to pinpoint where these guys are and what has happened, but we are definitely taking it
seriously," he said.

Review of hidden speed cameras 

Wellington: Transport Minister Mark Gosche is reviewing
the future of hidden speed cameras and may consider
scrapping them.

A spokeswoman for Mr Gosche confirmed yesterday he had received a
report on the country's first hidden speed camera trial, in Waikato, and
was seeking further information about its results.

It is understood the report showed results from the two-year trial were
inconclusive.

The road toll in the Waikato dropped to a 17-year low in the first year of
the trial, but rose steeply in the second year.

The decision to use hidden speed cameras was controversial, coming after
assurances when speed cameras were first introduced they would be
highly visible and clearly marked.

There were claims the cameras were being used to gather revenue for
police. About $22 million flowed into police coffers last year.

Mr Gosche told the Sunday Star Times yesterday he shared the concerns
about hidden cameras being introduced after the earlier assurances about
them being visible.

"With road safety measures you have to have an element of goodwill from the public.

"A considerable amount of goodwill disappeared when hidden speed cameras come in."

The Automobile Association is among groups which have expressed concerns about hidden speed cameras,
saying they have an initial impact but that cannot be sustained.

Transport Ministry senior policy manager Roger Toleman said recently the results were dramatic to begin
with, but the impact might have worn off. More research was needed, he said.

There are three hidden cameras in Waikato. Police say drivers travel 2kmh slower there than the national
average on the open road.

Mr Gosche's spokeswoman said it might be some months before a decision was made about the cameras. -
NZPA

Naval rating's dive to save man in vain 

Auckland: An Australian naval rating stripped off and dived into Auckland's Waitemata
Harbour in a desperate but futile attempt to save another man last night.

The Maori man was floating face down off Princes Wharf at the bottom of Queen St when he was noticed
by four ratings from the Australian frigate HMAS Darwin .

Inspector Peter Gibson from the police northern communications centre in Auckland said one of the ratings
stripped and dived in to bring the man back to a pontoon where all four tried to resuscitate him.

In the confusion, the rating who dived into the water lost his wallet, Insp Gibson said.

The dead man has yet to be identified but Insp Gibson said he was a regular visitor to the wharf area and
was known to police, although he was not an itinerant.

He was in his 60s and had numerous tattoos.

  A Korean man became the fifth foreign national to die in Piha's treacherous surf this summer when he was
swept to his death while fishing on Saturday.

Ho Joon Lee (36) was knocked over by a wave while fishing on Flat Rock at the southern end of the
beach around midday.

Before he could get up, a second wave sent him tumbling into the water. Lifeguards who were training in the
area searched for him but could find only a backpack.

About 20 minutes later, a rescue helicopter spotted his body on the beach.

In brief 

  Three road deaths at weekend

Wellington : Two men were killed and two German tourists seriously injured in a head-on crash on State
Highway 1 near the Meremere drag strip, 64km southeast of Auckland, yesterday morning.

The crash took the weekend road toll to three after a man was killed on Auckland's northern motorway
earlier in the day.

The names of the three men have not been released. - NZPA

  Man killed in rail yards

Wellington : A 43-year-old man died after he was trapped between a train and a truck at Wellington rail
yards on Friday.

He was a Tranz Rail worker. A company spokeswoman said a comprehensive inquiry, also involving
Occupational Safety and Health, would be undertaken.

His name was not available. - NZPA

  Correction

The free customer phone number for Meridian Energy is 0800 46 37 43. The number was incorrectly given
in a story on electricity costs in Saturday's Otago Daily Times . The error is regretted.

  Driver progressing in hospital

The driver of a car which left the road and rolled on the Kilmog, north of Dunedin, on Wednesday was
progressing favourably in Dunedin Hospital last night.

The injured man has been named as Hugh Cameron .

Mr Cameron was seriously injured while a female passenger escaped with minor to moderate injuries. Both
are believed to be in their 60s.

Further details and the woman's name were not available last night.

  Electricity hot-line closed

Wellington : A temporary consumer hot-line set up to get feedback on the electricity reforms has closed
after logging nearly 2000 complaints.

Consumer Affairs Minister Phillida Bunkle said the 0800 service launched last month had uncovered a
number of stories of "hardship" and widespread dissatisfaction with power companies. - NZPA

  Veteran cyclists injured

Invercargill : Two veteran cyclists, John Alabaster and Ray Robinson, collided during a Cycling Southland
race to Bluff and were taken to Southland Hospital in Invercargill on Saturday afternoon.

Both suffered injuries, including suspected concussion and lacerations. Alabaster (43) has a pierced lung and
is still in hospital. Robinson (51) was discharged on Saturday night with his ankle in a cast.

The incident happened during a handicap race from Kew Bowl to Bluff. – NZPA

Expatriate conductor home for a holiday 

By Mark Hotton

Watching the Highlanders play on Saturday was high on the agenda for
former Dunedin conductor-composer Tecwyn Evans.

Mr Evans (28) has returned to Dunedin for three weeks for a "much
needed holiday".

He is working at one of the premier opera festivals in the world, at
Glyndebourne, in East Sussex, England.

Employed as course master and assistant conductor, his role is to choose
singers for the festival and look after them while it is in production.

Even though Mr Evans is home for a holiday, he has still been able to help
with the Enzso concert on April 1 and is helping train the choir.

The Dunedin Sinfonia's composer in residence in 1995, he moved to the
University of Kansas in 1997 to spend a year studying music.

Businessman abused, say rescuers 

Auckland: Hardened former SAS warriors, who snatched a Chinese Indonesian business tycoon from years
of captivity in a Javanese village, were shocked by the state in which they found him.

Johnson Cornelius Lo, who claims to be heir to a huge financial empire built on sugar and Tiger Balm, is
recovering in a secret hideaway in Auckland after being found wasting away in solitary confinement.

An invitation through an Australian contact to rescue him went to principals of Onix International, an
Auckland security company whose contracts include guarding the America's Cup.

Onix managing director Ken Whatuira, who fought in the Gulf War with the British SAS, is believed to have
flown with an associate to Indonesia last September to meet trustees of Mr Lo's fortune and negotiate his
release.

They were shocked to find him emaciated, a victim of physical and psychological abuse, after being held for
five years in a tiny room in a central Javanese village by gangsters led by a corrupt local police official, it
was reported.

Attempts to free funds to meet a ransom demand are understood to have fallen through because of tight
controls on his bank accounts in Indonesia and Hong Kong, and prevarication by middlemen.

Officials of Indonesia's new government are said to have become concerned about Mr Lo's plight but were
too preoccupied with the country's political upheaval to intervene.

Mr Lo's trustees gave Onix approval to summon reinforcements from New Zealand in November to pluck
him out of the village.

Using observations of Mr Whatuira and his associate, John Hauraki, eight former SAS soldiers spent a week
at Onix's New Lynn base rehearsing a rescue plan after building a mock-up of the house where Mr Lo was
held.

They then flew to Java by commercial aircraft through Brisbane and Bali, before buying two sports utility
vehicles and driving to the village at night. Donning balaclavas and armed with batons in case of resistance
by Mr Lo's four guards, they took less than a minute to snatch him from the guards' grasp.

Mr Whatuira was guarded about discussing the operation, but insisted no firearms were involved and that his
men took care to ensure no innocent bystanders were hurt.

"There was no collateral damage, either physically or structurally, and that was vitally important."

"Because I had no legal rights there, we couldn't just whack someone."

Mr Whatuira was reluctant to identify the village, other than to say it was somewhere in central Java, but it is
believed to be about an hour's drive from Yogyakarta.

He strongly denied a suggestion in a business weekly that Mr Lo was snatched from East Timor, under the
noses of New Zealand peacekeeping soldiers.

"We would never do anything to embarrass our troops," said Mr Whatuira, a former New Zealand SAS man
who spent 10 years until 1997 with the legendary British 22 SAS squadron.

Mr Lo is understood to have been issued with a New Zealand visitor's permit.

Diver still missing, four in
                              hospital 

Christchurch: Four divers rescued after a triple
fatality at French Pass are being treated at
Christchurch Hospital while the search for the body
of the man still missing continues.

Staff and associates of the Nelson Dive Centre
spent the weekend searching for David Welsh
(21), one of seven Nelson divers dragged to a depth
of 90m on Friday when a training session for
advanced divers being run by the firm went wrong.

Two other divers, Ricky McDonald (40) and
Narelle Tanika Te Purei (33), died in the
accident. Four others were rescued and taken to
Nelson hospital by helicopter. The bodies of Mr
McDonald and Ms Te Purei were found on Friday.

One woman, Emma McLeod (23), was admitted
and the other three were treated and discharged,
but all four were flown to Christchurch on Saturday
afternoon as a precaution after one of those
discharged came back to the hospital with
symptoms similar to the bends.

A Christchurch Hospital spokesman, Ralph Brown, said Ms McLeod and Derek Tanarau were still receiving
hyperbaric treatment and were making good progress. 

Brian Kirkwood and Andrew Stuart had received treatment and were comfortable, Mr Brown said.

Before their readmission to hospital, some of the divers involved in the accident had called at the dive centre
to learn of progress with the search.

"They are, as you would expect, a bit shaken up," part-time instructor Shaun Heath said.

He said the principal of the dive centre, Ed Torr, took a team of eight experienced divers back to French
Pass on Saturday to resume the search for Mr Welsh.

This was despite police calling off their underwater search because of possible danger. Mr Heath said all
those in the dive centre group had deep-diving tickets and were very experienced at what they were doing.

Sergeant Mike Irving, of Blenheim, said a decision would be made today on whether there would be any
further official attempt to recover Mr Welsh's body.

He said the worst-case scenario was that it was in a hole at more than 100m and the only safe way of going
that deep was with specialist equipment which would include having the navy's decompression chamber on
hand.

Mr Welsh had been seen on the bottom by other divers at the time of the accident but it was not known if he
had been able to release any of his diving weights.

Mario Alessi, of Nelson's Big Blue Dive and Ski, said a staff member had helped the search for Mr Welsh
on Saturday.

"He declined to go today [Sunday] just because of where they were diving and the currents. It was quite
dangerous," he said.

Richard Webster, owner of Underwater Sports Christchurch, said he did not take commercial dives at
French Pass, which featured tidal surges of up to six or seven knots, too strong to swim against.

Three tickets win $1 million each in draw 

Wellington: Three tickets, from Dargaville, Auckland and Wanganui, each won $1 million in Lotto No 662
drawn on Saturday.

The winning numbers were: 7, 22, 28, 33, 35, 40. The bonus no was: 1.

The total prize pool was $5,914,406.

Division 1: $1 million (3 winners).

Division 2: $7500 (28).

Setting of flare angers police 

By Mark Hotton

An "act of stupidity" which could have had tragic consequences has angered police.

Sergeant Brian Benn said searchers looking for a missing swimmer and members of the public reported
seeing a red marine distress parachute flare on Saturday night.

By triangulating the sightings the location was pinpointed over land in the Corstorphine-Green Island area.

It was not related to the original search.

Sgt Benn praised those who reported the flare as the search could have been sent in the wrong direction.

"We could have been looking in one place while someone was drowning in another.

"Setting flares off when there is no emergency is a serious offence - thousands of much needed dollars can
be wasted in a fruitless search."

  St Kilda search - page 4

Two Davids share a birthday with 20,000 `guests'

Wellington: Birthday boy David Price was full
of excitement when the lights dimmed over
Wellington's Edinburgh Tattoo on Friday - but
nothing prepared him for the thrill of having his
name announced over the loudspeaker system.

When the commentator congratulated David
Price on his birthday he was, in fact,
congratulating another birthday boy, the
tattoo's music adviser.

David Price senior, turning 54, OBE and a
Lieutenant-colonel with the Scots Guards
might have permitted himself a smile at the
splendour of the birthday setting, the
resplendent, and mostly full Westpac Trust
Stadium.

David Price junior, turning 12, was sharp
enough to realise within a few seconds that the
announcement was not for him.

But after being applauded enthusiastically by 20,000 people, he also was not going to let the moment go.

"He looked a bit startled, then realised it wasn't for him," his father Lawson Price said.

"Then he basked in it."

The two Davids finally met up informally at the Park Royal Hotel yesterday where they discovered they both
love singing and music.

David jun's Lower Hutt family has a strong Scottish heritage with several Scottish relatives coming over to
stay with the family and to see the tattoo.

Lt-col Price, who is Welsh, said he had fallen in love with Scotland, and was retiring there.

How had the tattoo gone? 

"It's been very good . . . the bands have worked so well together."

And David jun? "It's been fabulous."

  Tickets to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Wellington were sold out before Christmas and more than
80,000 people will experience the four shows. 

Performing out of Scotland for first time since it began 50 years ago, more than 700 performers from New
Zealand and Fiji and 300 from British regiments will take part.

NZ also mourning Tuvalu deaths 

Wellington: Many New Zealanders would be mourning the loss of 18 schoolgirls and
their supervisor in a dormitory fire in Tuvalu on Thursday night, acting Prime Minister
Jim Anderton said in a letter of condolence to the South Pacific nation.

The fire, believed to have been started by a student's candle, swept through a locked dormitory in the girls'
sleeping quarters. Its door had been fastened shut and its open windows were covered in wire mesh.

Mr Anderton said yesterday he had sent a letter to the Tuvalu Government on Saturday expressing New
Zealand's "deepest sympathy and condolences".

"I said that not just their country, but many people in New Zealand would be grieving with them today."

A mass burial was being held yesterday on the remote coral atoll of Vaitupu, attended by Tuvalu Prime
Minister Ionatana Ionatana.

A spokesman for Mr Ionatana said the decision for mass burial had been because the bodies were burned
beyond recognition and could not be returned to their parents.

The fire broke out in the Toalipi girls' dormitory at Motufoua Secondary School, Tuvalu's largest school with
about 300 students, both boys and girls.

The dead students, aged 14 to 17, were trapped inside when the fire began. The supervisor died as she tried
to rescue them, reports said.

A government spokesman said 18 girls had escaped by smashing down a door.

Last night, 200 people crammed into a small Grey Lynn church in Auckland to remember the dead.

Tuvalu Community Trust chairman Malua Taufala, an old-boy of Motufoua, said many of the 5000
Tuvaluans in New Zealand would be related to someone who died in the fire.

The Tuvalu Government is launching an investigation into the blaze.

Brawl and car chase occupy
                                police 

By Dianne King

Alexandra: Police in Central Otago had a busy 24 hours at the weekend after two separate serious incidents
involving a brawl and assault at Roxburgh and a high-speed police chase ending in a crash near Wanaka.

There will be a Police Complaints Authority inquiry into the police pursuit because the motorist received
minor injuries, Sergeant Steve Smith, of Alexandra, said.

At 1.10am on Saturday, police were carrying out random drink-driving breath tests in Cromwell when a
motorist failed to stop and drove off towards Wanaka, allegedly travelling at speeds up to 160kmh. Police
pursued the vehicle for about 40km until the motorist crashed into a pole about 2km past Wanaka airport.

The 23-year old Alexandra driver suffered minor injuries and will appear in the Alexandra District Court on
March 21 charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop. 

Twenty-four hours later, at 1.10am yesterday, Alexandra and Roxburgh police were called to a brawl
involving about 30 people, Constable Andy Reed, of Roxburgh, said.

The Roxburgh publican was set upon by a couple of youths after he went outside to investigate an object
thrown at a hotel window. Hotel patrons rushed outside to his aid and the occupants of a nearby house also
appeared on the scene, with the incident escalating into a full scale brawl, Const Reed said.

Senior Constable Jape Wanoa, of Roxburgh, and two Alexandra police were sent to the scene as back-up.

It was one of the worst incidents in the eight years be had been based at Roxburgh, Const Reed said. In the
brawl, two people were injured, one seriously, and taken to Dunstan hospital in Clyde.

A man who rushed to the assistance of the publican had a fractured skull and suspected broken jaw and was
transferred to Dunedin hospital. The other man was treated and discharged, Const Reed said.

As a result of the incident, two Invercargill men will appear in the Alexandra District Court on March 21. A
17-year-old will be charged with fighting in a public place and a 23-year-old will be charged with assault with
intent to injure. 

Const Reed said he expected further arrests would be made.

Skeggs said to be part of bid for Ansett NZ 

                               By Mark Hotton

                               Former Dunedin mayor Sir Clifford Skeggs has been linked with a
                               consortium looking to buy Ansett New Zealand.

                               A Sunday newspaper reported Sir Clifford was believed to be
                               involved in a consortium formed by Auckland merchant banker
                               David Belcher, of Clavell Capital. Businessmen Alan Gibbs and
                               Trevor Farmer were also identified as members of the group.

                               Sir Clifford could not be contacted for comment last night. 

                               The newspaper reported Mr Belcher had received a conditional
                               sale agreement from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns
                               the airline.

                               It was revealed last June that negotiations were under way for the
                               sale of Ansett.

                               Qantas and News Corp had been discussing the potential sale but
                               talks had collapsed over the price, which was believed to be about
                               $60 million.

                               Ansett arrived in New Zealand in 1987, bringing competition to
domestic routes, but has since lost more than $200 million, including $2.9 million in the 12 months to June
1999.

The airline is expected to be renamed within 30 days as a condition of sale.

Campaign leads to fall in antibiotic use 

Wellington: New Zealanders are using fewer antibiotics, much to the relief of drug funding agency Pharmac.

Pharmac is relieved not because it is saving money but because antibiotics are being less used for illnesses
that they do not help and the chances of overuse leading to antibiotic-resistant superbugs are reduced.

Pharmac general manager Wayne McNee said anecdotal evidence showed New Zealanders were
"tempering" their use of antibiotics. Doctors were reporting that patients were not insisting on prescriptions
for illnesses that antibiotics could not help, and many doctors were reportedly writing few prescriptions for
the drugs.

The reduction follows a campaign launched last winter by Pharmac, doctors and pharmacists advocating the
wise use of antibiotics.

Two wheels fall off tourist bus 

By Kerry Williamson

Queenstown: A passenger coach with 18 tourists aboard lost two back wheels near Gibbston on Saturday
night. 

The coach was travelling to Queenstown from Twizel on Saturday night when the wheels fell off just past
the Victoria Bridge, about 10km west of Arrowtown.

It ground to a halt, with sparks from the wheel rims starting a small scrubfire, later extinguished by fire
brigades from Arrowtown and Cromwell.

The tourists had to be ferried to Queenstown on a second bus. Nobody was injured in the accident.

A Queenstown police spokeswoman said the bus had had a flat tyre near Twizel.

The tyre had been replaced at a garage and the wheel had been checked again in Omarama, but the wheel
nuts on the rear tyre came undone near the bridge, and two wheels fell off.

It is understood the bus was travelling at about 80kmh.

SIS role in universities questioned 

Auckland: Secret spying on university campuses by the Security Intelligence Service
may be threatening academic freedom, a report says.

Commissioned by the Association of University Staff, the report recommended an inquiry into the SIS,
including how its operations affect universities, the Sunday Star-Times reported yesterday.

Author Dr Donald Savage, a Canadian higher education consultant, said people spoke to him about the role
of the SIS while he was touring New Zealand universities.

A case involving Christchurch activist Aziz Choudry, whose house was broken into by SIS agents in 1996,
had also heightened concerns over whom the organisation was targeting.

There was historical proof universities and academics had been spied on: in 1966, an inquiry was held after
an SIS officer was discovered operating at the University of Auckland; in his autobiography, historian Keith
Sinclair described how New Zealand security forces tried to censor his biography of former prime minister
Walter Nash; and in 1994 a former SIS agent claimed her unit targeted diplomats, union leaders, university
lecturers and suspected communists.

Dr Savage wanted a review of the SIS, the Government Communications Security Bureau and the
surveillance activities of the Criminal Intelligence Service of the police.

He suggested introducing safeguards which already applied to the Canadian secret service, such as there
being no covert action on university campuses without the written prior approval of the minister.

"The operations of the security services can have an impact on academic freedom and the institutional
autonomy of universities, and have done so in many democratic countries, including New Zealand," he said.

At the time of the Choudry search, police also searched the house of Canterbury University lecturer Dr
David Small. The role of the police criminal intelligence service in the search is under litigation.

Dr Small said he was pleased with Dr Savage's report.

"There's no way of knowing whether the SIS is active on campus, but there is a secrecy and
unaccountability which surrounds the SIS, and a contempt for accepted rules about privacy, academic
freedom and democracy."

Prime Minister Helen Clark dismissed the report, saying the issues it raised had already been dealt with by
select committee.

"As a former university academic I'm a strong supporter of academic freedom, [but] as far as I'm aware the
SIS has absolutely no interest in the activities of academics."

Crash pilot goes back to finish job 

Hamilton: Derek Williams is not a man to leave a job unfinished.

On Friday afternoon, just hours after crashing a top-dressing plane near Cambridge, the veteran pilot
returned to Super Air's Hamilton base to pick up another plane and finish the job.

The Tauranga pilot shrugged off his mishap - his first write-off in more than 40 years of flying.

Mr Williams was reluctant to say much about the crash but said the accident happened shortly after takeoff.

He escaped unhurt and was soon walking around outside the plane.

Support for strong collegial structures 

By Fleur Robinson

Collegial structures are the key to ensuring free discussion can take place on campus, according to a newly
released higher education review.

Canadian consultant Dr Donald Savage was commissioned by the Association of University Staff last year
to review academic freedom in New Zealand.

Academic freedom includes the freedom to teach, do research and publish the results without censorship.

It involves academics' rights to be the critic and conscience of society without retaliation by the university or
by the government, and to participate in professional organisations and unions.

Dr Savage, who consulted with universities, political parties, business and educational bodies, has just
released his 200-page report. He suggests there was an unprecedented attack on university autonomy and
academic freedom by central government between 1984 and 1990 in a drive toward maximum
commercialisation of public institutions.

Although universities resisted the attacks, morale was eroded and both academic freedom and institutional
autonomy were undermined, he said.

Collegial, rather than managerial, structures were a key to protecting academic freedom, despite some
boards being ineffectual, and Dr Savage offered ways to strengthen them. 

His recommendations included requiring vice-chancellors to consult their councils over employment issues
rather than exercise their power of sole employer.

Self-governance by universities, coupled with a respect for public accountability were necessary to academic
freedom, Dr Savage said. The government must allow universities maximum autonomy but it had the right to
ensure taxpayers' money was spent honestly and effectively, and to suggest the overall expectations of the
university system.

Dr Savage recommended universities were not taxed and that central research funds were financed to
maximise independent research. Relationships between businesses and universities involving research
needed to be carefully handled so results were not suppressed, he warned.

AUS national president Neville Blampied said the union intended to ensure academic boards were restored
to their rightful place in collegial decision-making.

It would also work to ensure those boards had a majority of academic staff who were not in senior
management positions, and supported the recommendation they be chaired by an independent person rather
than the vice-chancellor.

The ability of university staff to develop, debate and publicise new and potentially controversial ideas was
vital to the knowledge society, he said.

  SIS role questioned - page 6

Bonus Bonds 

The first prize of $300,000 in the March monthly prize draw for Bonus Bonds went to bond unit No 6137
544846.

The second prize of $100,000 went to bond unit No 4169 805643.

The third prize of $50,000 went to bond unit No 3267 650445.

New museums business unit
                    jobs advertised 

By Mark Hotton

Two positions created by the restructuring of the Dunedin City Council museums business unit were
advertised at the weekend.

The positions of exhibitions designer and marketing and commercial development manager were advertised
in Saturday's Otago Daily Times and Christchurch's Press. 

Three staff were made redundant as part of restructuring aimed at making better use of staff resources
within the unit, which is made up of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and the Otago Settlers Museum.

The gallery's shop manager, Dianne Shaw, accepted redundancy before Christmas, while marketing and
development officer James Lee finished work earlier this month.

Historical curator Peter Entwisle's last day of work is April 19.

One of the advertised positions is being funded by his salary.

When contacted yesterday, former acting chief executive Athol Stephens said he could not comment on
whether it was possible Mr Entwisle could still be retained, even though the job was being advertised.

Because the 90-day notice of redundancy given to Mr Entwisle had not expired, he was unable to comment
further.

"The 90-day process allows for any appeals or actions or anything like that," Mr Stephens said.

He could no say whether an appeal had been made.

"We're still going through the process."

The exhibition designer, who will be based at the Otago Settlers Museum, will be responsible for the design
of temporary and long-term exhibition installations and will assist with publications and other graphic design.

"The position offers an opportunity to work with extensive collections and active and stimulating exhibition
programmes."

A tertiary qualification in design, fine arts or "similar" is required.

Applications for the position close on April 4 and those for the marketing position, on April 5.

Dunedin bands make mark 

Staff Reporter

Dunedin pipe bands performed creditably in their respective grades at the national championships in
Masterton at the weekend.

The City of Dunedin Pipe Band was second overall, having gained second place in both the grade two set
and the grade two medley.

The John McGlashan College Pipe Band was fifth overall after being placed second in music in street march,
third in the medley and seventh in the set.

John McGlashan College Pipe Band director Don Smith said the band's placing meant it was now well
established as a grade three band.

The City of Dunedin band is also taking part in the Edinburgh Tattoo at the new Wellington Stadium, along
with the Champions of Otago Pipe Band.

Search finds nothing after beach sighting 

By Mark Hotton

The Tranzrail helicopter and two inflatable rescue boats were used to to search the St Kilda coast on
Saturday night after a person was reported to be floating beyond the breakers.

A Dunedin couple driving along John Wilson Dr at dusk thought they saw a person in the water near the St
Kilda Surf Life-saving Club about 8pm.

They drove to St Clair and spoke with members of the Southcoast Boardriders surfing club who contacted
the Christchurch-based emergency services communication centre at about 8.25pm.

Sergeant Tony Bridgman said the helicopter made three sweeps of the beach with its search light while
IRBs also searched the area in perfect conditions.

About 9.50pm the controller decided to call off the search after nothing was found.

Nobody had been reported missing, Sgt Bridgman said.

Few problems at rugby match 

By Mark Hotton

Police were generally pleased with the overall crowd behaviour at the Highlanders match at Carisbrook on
Saturday afternoon.

Sergeant Tony Bridgman said there had been "a few problems but it wasn't too bad".

A 22-year-old Invercargill man was taken into custody for detoxification.

However, police were kept busy in the central city on Saturday night, with 12 arrests for a variety of
offences.

  Three 16-year-old youths were arrested for fighting outside Orbit.

  Three Dunedin men, two aged 21 and a 20-year-old, will face assault charges after an incident in Gt King
St.

  A 17-year-old man was arrested for disorderly behaviour in Gt King St.

  A 20-year-old Ashburton man will face an intentional damage charge after allegedly breaking a window at
Bezett Jewellers in George St.

  A 16-year-old girl was arrested for escaping from Social Welfare custody.

  A 24-year-old man was arrested for disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest.

  A 19-year-old Christchurch man was arrested for offensive behaviour and possessing cannabis.

  A 17-year-old man was arrested for dangerous driving on George and London Streets.

Dunedin first for Land-on-line
                               system 

By Simon Hartley 

The Dunedin office of Land Information New Zealand will be the first to install the computer system already
costing $35 million above earlier estimates.

The Land-on-line computer system will put existing survey plans and land title records on to a data base
which, by next year, will be electronically lodged and accessed by private computer users.

The 1997 cost estimate of $97 million has ballooned by about $35 million to more than $130 million.

Land Information chief executive Dr Russ Ballard said the difference between the original 1997
Land-on-line cost estimate and the "real market cost" two years later was approximately $35 million. There
had been no cost overruns, he said.

By comparison, the police Incis computer, originally budgeted at $100 million, was later projected, because of
cost overruns, to eventually top $130 million.

A spokesman for Dr Ballard declined the Otago Daily Times' request for an interview and asked for all
ques- tions to be put in writing and faxed.

When Dr Ballard was asked if there was any comparison between the failed police Incis computer project
and Land-on-line he replied "No".

He was asked what the projected overrun and total cost was likely to be.

"At this stage we aren't prepared to say how much we have spent and how much more is to go. We have
not selected the tenderers for the requirements study and the design and build of stage two. We don't want
to compromise our ability to negotiate a good deal," Dr Ballard said.

"The conversion projects are by far the largest, longest and most expensive parts of the programme," he said.

The "facilities management and conversion contracts" were about two-thirds of the overall cost of the
programme, which was on a par with two similar Australian-based projects, he said.

A redesigning of work required by Pricewaterhouse Coopers added about a further $5 million to the cost, Dr
Ballard said.

He said Land Information was "well within the range of funds" the Government made available for the
project and there was no indication the project would have to be scaled back. 

Dunedin was chosen as the first office in which to implement the system because its experienced staff had
dealt with the full range of Land Information transactions.

It was the smallest of five regional offices and best placed to cope with the complexity of the Land-on-line
system and could "detect and fix 'bugs", despite already extensive testing, he said.

Land-on-line would not produce an income but was calculated to save the department about $12 million and
would result in a reduction in user fees to below those before a fees increase in 1998, Dr Ballard said.

The Invercargill then Christchurch offices would be the next to implement the system, he said.

Bash raises $7000 in city 

By Fiona Hill and NZPA

Colour, noise and water seem to be the common themes of New Zealand Variety Club bashes and this
year's Monster Millennium Bash was no exception.

The "bash" - 65 pre-1967 vehicles driven by teams of seemingly mad charity fund-raisers - left Dunedin early
on Saturday morning bound for Auckland via Invercargill.

Before leaving the city, amid a cacophony of noise and a shower from water pistols, the Variety Club
donated $71,473 to Dunedin children's groups.

Dunedin Hospital, St Leonards Playcentre, Otago Special Olympics and Wakari School were among the 21
groups given grants, club spokesman Ken Dickson said.

Fund-raising activities run in the past week by bash sponsors Countdown and Cadbury Confectionery raised
more than $7000 in the city.

  Several thousand people turned up to see New Zealand's small-screen stars give away thousands of dollars
at a Variety Club Bash in Invercargill on Saturday.

Six cheques totalling $9500 were handed to Southland beneficiaries.

Another big cheque, for $2500, was handed to Scott Boyle (5), of Invercargill, to buy a computer. Scott
spends much of his time in a wheelchair having been born with spinal muscular atrophy.

The bash visited Queenstown yesterday. Grants were given to Frankton Kindergarten, Queenstown Primary
School and Wakatipu Kindergarten.

Kiwi Kids come out in force 

Staff Reporter

Light rain did not deter a record turnout of 1315 children to the third annual Weetbix Kiwi Kids Try-athlon at
St Clair beach yesterday, spokesman Jason Smart said.

He credited the increase - from 900 entries last year - to more 11 to 14-year-olds entering the individual race
sections and an overall increase in groups entering the team event.

"The light rain didn't appear to hamper anyone - they all just went for it," Mr Smart said.

For three hours, from 10am to 1pm, the Esplanade and half of Victoria Rd was closed to traffic and lined by
cheering parents and siblings urging children through the course.

Mr Smart understood there were no injuries on the slippery roads, although a young girl was treated for a
nose-bleed following her swim in the hot salt water pool.

Scout group gathers 

By Fiona Hill

Fellowship and memories were among the highlights for more than 100 former members of the Knox Church
Scout Group who gathered at the weekend.

The group operated from 1931 to 1991, and is the topic of a book, These Are The Times , by Alan McRobie.

Reunion committee chairman Ray McCrombie said a wide range of former members - from committee
members to leaders and former scouts - had attended the reunion.

Many had not seen each other for several decades and there was a lot to catch up on, he said.

The book was officially launched on Friday night. Those attending the reunion took a trip down memory lane
to old camping sites and held a dinner.

A church service at Knox Church was held yesterday to commemorate the group's 60-year existence.

New system will cut jobs 

By Simon Hartley

Land Information New Zealand has confirmed some of its 700 employees will be made redundant once its
Land-on-line computer service is fully operational, chief executive Dr Russ Ballard said.

Implementation of the computer system, already costing $35 million more than 1997 estimates, begins in
Dunedin next month.

When asked to comment on the possibility of redundancies, Dr Ballard released a statement saying not all
staff would retain their jobs under the new system.

"The staffing levels under phase one of Land-on-line will be approximately 340.

"We don't know what the exact staffing levels will be at the end of the whole programme as they will depend
upon the number of surveyors and conveyancers using electronic equipment," Dr Ballard said.

There were about 700 employees in total, with 513 working in 12 operational offices doing the survey and
title processing work of Land Information. 

Dunedin is the smallest of five regional offices operated by Land Information. 

Dr Ballard said implementation of the on-line system was not an income source for Land Information.
However, he predicted up to $12 million a year could be saved by people using the Land-on-line service.

Dunedin management and staff had been preparing for next month's implementation for the past two years
and were enthusiastic about the new system, he said.

Centre opens new premises 

The Dunedin Environment Centre officially opened its new headquarters on Friday night.

A spokesman said the centre, now at 123 Princes St, was opened by Mayor Sukhi Turner.

Two initiatives - an organic growers network and a Dunedin city restoration plan - were also launched.

Award to Massey scholar 

Staff Reporter

Dr Jenny Lawn, of Massey University, has won the Lawrence Jones Fellowship in New Zealand literature.

The $2000 award provides for a scholar to carry out research in Dunedin's libraries, especially the recently
refurbished Hocken Library.

Dr Lawn, who has a BA (hons) in English from the University of Otago, plans to produce an anthology on
"Kiwi Gothic" from Ronald Hugh Morrieson to Janet Frame and the Dunedin-based film Scarfies .

Emeritus Prof Lawrence Jones retired from the Otago University English department last year.

11 April

Mainland."

Gift of Southern sculpture 

By Fiona Hill

The legendary Southern Man and his horse have been captured in
life-size bronze as a millennium gift to the Otago region from
Speight's Brewery. 

The bronze statue would be placed at the entrance to Dun-edin
Airport in the next fortnight by sculptor Sam Mahon, of
Canterbury, a brewery spokeswoman said yesterday.

The company wanted to "give something to the region that all
Southerners could relate to and be proud of", Kirstan McPherson
said.

"Like Speight's, the Southern man is an icon and legend of the
South, making Dunedin Airport the perfect place for it to be
mounted."

Mr Mahon was selected for the creation of the bronze after a
national search.

"Sam was the only person in New Zealand with the artistic talent
and technical skills to complete such a huge task", Ms McPherson
said.

"He also had the positive attribute of coming from the Mainland."

Board fights rate increase 

By Dave Smith

Cromwell: Slashing the Central Otago District Council's proposed $150,000 economic development and
$80,000 tourism budgets could lead to a significant drop in rates for the Cromwell ward ratepayers.

The Cromwell Community Board spent three hours yesterday grappling with ways to reduce its parent
council's proposed 7.1% rate increase for the next financial year.

The draft increase has had a profound effect on Cromwell businesses, with some facing an increase up to
48%. 

Board chairman Gordon Stewart successfully persuaded his board to make submissions to the council's draft
annual budget.

Mr Stewart said the (7.1%) increase was too big, considering the impact it would have on some sectors of
the community.

Areas targeted by the board included the economic development levy and the district promotion rate, which
was for the Tourism Central Otago organisation.

Cromwell ratepayers faced a 25% apportionment of the $150,000 economic development rate and the
$80,000 district promotion amount which, based on capital value rating, was having the major effect. 

While the board agreed development and tourism were important for the region, it wanted the council to look
at the same level of funding as in last year's budget - $40,000 for economic development and $35,000 for
tourism.

Board members trimmed some of the ward accounts, but were loath to penalise the ward's growth.

Ward councillor Terry Emmitt said the commercial rate increase, largely through the economic development
increase, would have a negative impact, particularly on the town mall, where it would force shop owners out
of business.

Along with other sectors of the community, the board would write a draft annual budget submission to
present to the council.

Knights, dames off honours list

NZPA Staff Correspondent

Wellington: Knights and dames will not feature in this year's Queen's Birthday honours list, after the
Government confirmed yesterday it had scrapped the titles.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the Queen had approved the move.

Opposition parties damned the decision, which National leader Jenny Shipley said she would reverse next
time her party was in power.

Ms Clark said the decision meant Queen's Birthday honours on June 5 would be held "under a wholly New
Zealand system".

"The time has come to move on and really put a New Zealand flavour and mark on the honours system," Ms
Clark said.

The Government's decision completes changes begun five years ago under former prime minister Jim
Bolger. An honours advisory committee set up by Mr Bolger recommended that New Zealand-based
honours replace British ones and that titles be abolished.

The National government at the time supported only the first change.

The new system retains the Order of New Zealand, which carries no title, as the country's highest honour.

Below that will be a five-tier New Zealand Order of Merit.

The top two tiers, principal companions of the order and distinguished companions of 

Continued on page 2

`Dunedin Sound' in line-up 

By Sharon Fowler

The Big O Parkzone 2000 concert may not be repeated.

However, "Dunedin Sound" music would be heard at the Otago Festival
of the Arts, Dunedin City Council events and festivals subcommittee
chairwoman Cr Teresa Stevenson said yesterday.

The Dunedin City Council spent $40,000 on the Big O Parkzone 2000
concert of "Dunedin Sound" music last month. An estimated 5000 people
were expected but only 2500 to 3000 turned up.

The arts festival is planned for October but the council has not given it
any money, to the anger of some of the local arts community.

Events co-ordinator Islay McLeod said in a report to the subcommittee
the Big O was likely to be repeated next year and a naming rights
sponsor was interested.

However, she told a subcommittee meeting yesterday she would have to
think about whether to hold it again, given its narrow scale.

The concert had been a quality event with good feedback from those
who went, she said. However, many students had not gone, possibly
because they were worn out following sporting and Orientation events.

Cr Stevenson said "Dunedin Sound" music would be included in the arts festival. She congratulated the
organisers on that.

Cr Elizabeth Hanan said perhaps the timing had been wrong.

Cr Richard Walls said in his day, "Dunedin Sound" music played in pubs and it was never "concert at the
oval" style music. It would be good to feature the music as part of the festival, he believed.

After the meeting, Cr Stevenson said money had been set aside for Otago Anniversary Day weekend
celebrations, and the $40,000 given to Big O Parkzone 2000 as part of that.

This financial year, $10,000 had been set aside for anniversary events, she said.

Consent for funeral home in former church 

By Sharon Fowler

The former Concord-Corstorphine Presbyterian Church buildings can now become a funeral parlour. 

The Dunedin City Council consent hearings committee yesterday released a decision to allow Dignity
Funeral Services Ltd to operate a funeral parlour and mortuary.

The church is on the corner of Isadore and Middleton Rds in Dunedin. Its last service was held in February
and the site was sold to Dignity subject to the consent being gained.

Dignity managing director Phil Gowling had applied to convert the former church and hall into a funeral
parlour, which will provide mortuary facilities, casket display, services and receptions. One or two funerals a
week are expected.

Consultant planner Keith Hovell said in a report the site was zoned residential in the transitional and proposed
district plans. The mortuary was a non-complying activity.

Dignity had gained approval from 15 neighbouring people or groups. The council had received one
submission of support and one of opposition.

The latter came from a neighbour, who said the funeral parlour would give both her family and mourners a
lack of privacy. Council staff were also concerned the proposed 17 car parks would not be enough.

The committee said it was satisfied the funeral home's adverse effects would be no more than minor.

The consent had two conditions: that a reflective layer be added to windows to guard the neighbour's privacy
and that the council be able to review on-site parking if numbers grew.

Neither Hope and Sons Ltd nor Gillions and Sons Ltd funeral directors wished to comment last night.

Resident concerned at trucks travelling in
                          heritage precinct 

                             By Sharon Fowler

                             About 150 trucks a day roared through Port Chalmers, a concerned
                             inhabitant told the Dunedin City Council yesterday. 

                             "A lot of the truckies are terribly gung ho about how they drive and I
                             don't think they're aware of the effect they're having," Mary
                             McFarlane said. 

                             Logging trucks and units containing woodchips caused noise, pollution,
                             traffic and health problems for local businesses and residents, she told
                             a planning and environment committee meeting. 

                             She worked as an artist in a George St building, thought to be 120
                             years old. The street was part of a heritage precinct, yet trucks shook
                             her building as they travelled along State Highway 88 through town to
                             port. 

                             Plaster was falling off one historic building and she wanted to know
                             why residents had to gain resource consent to alter buildings, yet
                             increasing numbers of trucks could roar through town undisturbed. 

                             Trucks applied exhaust engine brakes as they entered the main street,
                             creating much noise, she said. She could not talk on the telephone
                             because of it. 

                             Traffic safety was a concern, with trucks double parking: "They treat
                             the main street like a truck stop." 

                             Miss McFarlane said she did not want trucks off the main street but
                             wanted an improved quality of life. Lowering speed limits and banning
                             exhaust engine braking would help. 

                             Council transportation planning manager Don Hill said State Highway
                             88 was the major route to the port. A working party was looking at
                             issues such as taking freight to the port without going through the main
                             street. 

                             Vehicles had rights on roads and did not need resource consent, he
                             said. 

                             Committee chairman Cr Syd Brown said Transit New Zealand could
                             not restrict noise levels on existing roads. He hoped the working party
                             would address the concerns raised. 

                             The road/rail working party meets tomorrow at 4pm at the Civic
                             Centre in the Octagon.

Prison visit ends with charges laid 

By Mark Hotton 

A 32-year-old unemployed Christchurch man's visit to Dunedin Prison was halted on Sunday when he was
arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle in cannabis and possessing stolen goods.

The man will face charges relating to the possession of cannabis oil, cannabis seeds, cannabis leaf, and
utensils and possessing cannabis for supply. He will also face charges relating to an allegedly stolen
backpack and laptop computer.

  Cash and food was taken from a Brownville Cres property on Saturday night while the occupant was
asleep in a bedroom.

  Unknown items from a safe and an original Highlanders jersey were taken during a burglary of legal firm
Gallaway, Haggitt and Sinclair over the weekend.

  Two computers valued at $6000 were taken during a burglary at Selectrix, early on Sunday.

  Two 19-year-old students were arrested and charged with intentional damage after they allegedly tipped a
Honda Civic on to its roof, early on Sunday.

  Two backpacks containing clothing, personal items, cash, passports and travellers cheques were taken
from an English tourist's car in the Lovers Leap area on Friday afternoon. A window was smashed to gain
access.

Varsity staff oppose move 

By John Gibb

Communication between University of Otago administrators and staff will not be improved by moves to cut
elected staff representation on the University Council, staff union leaders say.

Association of University Staff Otago branch president Michael Robertson said the branch executive
discussed the proposed moves yesterday and decided to draft a submission strongly opposing the proposed
change.

After consultation with AUS membership this week, the submission would be sent to university senate and
council members next Monday, he said in an interview.

Three council members are at present elected directly by academic staff.

The proposed change involves the non-elected university senate being able to "elect" two of its members to
be two of the three academic staff members of the council.

That would mean academic staff could directly elect only one of the three academic members.

Mr Roberston said he understood a council subcommittee would report to the closed section of today's
University Council meeting on efforts to improve communication between administration and staff.

Reducing directly-elected staff representation on the council seemed "counterproductive" in terms of better
communication, he said.

He was unclear why the vice-chancellor was going the "anti-democratic route" by considering possible cuts
to directly voted staff representation.

Mr Robertson asked whether "pesky" staff representatives on council had recently proved too effective in
criticising university administrators.

Vice-chancellor Dr Graeme Fogelberg said the proposal would be discussed at senate late this month after
an approach to him by several senior staff members. Senior staff were concerned there were no professors
or senate members sitting on the council, Dr Fogelberg said.

He denied that the proposed change was "undemocratic"as three academic representatives would remain on
the council, even if the proposal was later accepted by the council.

Safety campaigns `ineffective' 

Wellington: The Land Transport Safety Authority
continued to spend millions on ineffective road safety
campaigns while people continued to die on New Zealand
roads, Labour MP Harry Duynhoven said yesterday.

"For example, LTSA is busy telling people to wear seatbelts, while
concealing the fact that the seatbelts in many Kiwi vehicles will simply
not protect the wearer in a crash," said Mr Duynhoven, chairman of the
transport and industrial relations select committee.

His comments followed what he called "carnage" on the nation's roads at
the weekend, during which eight people died.

LTSA figures released yesterday showed the average weekend road toll
of 4.1 deaths had been exceeded on three of the past four weekends.
However, the 130 road toll to date this year was 19 down on the same
time last year.

"The fact is that compared to other countries, New Zealand's road toll is
appallingly high," Mr Duynhoven said in a statement.

The country was still suffering from the previous government's policies,
which resulted in millions of dollars being wasted on largely ineffective
road safety campaigns, he said.

"For example, as far as National is concerned, most accidents are caused by hoons and drunk drivers driving
too fast.

"However, the fact is deaths among young males are falling, while deaths among the elderly are rising.

"The fact is road deaths are caused by a variety of factors and therefore must be fixed by a variety of
measures."

Labour was committed to upgrading seatbelt standards, providing crash-test data to car buyers and to
improving roads so fewer crashes occur, Mr Duynhoven said.

"All it requires now is action."

Council replaced 

Wellington: The troubled Rodney District Council has been sacked and replaced by a commissioner, Local
Government Minister Sandra Lee announced yesterday.

She said the commissioner would be Auckland-based local government specialist Grant Kirby.

Mr Kirby will hold the position until March, when new elections for the council will be held.

The decision had been made after a ministerial review authority recommended a commissioner be installed.

"The commission is not a replacement for local democracy. It is a holding measure until fresh elections can
be held," Ms Lee said in a statement.

"Government intervention in the affairs of a local authority is not something I or my colleagues take lightly."

The decision was welcomed by National's local government spokesman, Murray McCully.

"The minister had nowhere else to go. Not to have supported the recommendations of the review authority
would have exposed the Government and the minister to real risk."

He said National would co-operate with Government plans to legislate to stop a by-election process already
under way.

`Wahine' survivor meets her
                              rescuer 

Wellington: Bitingly-cold winds and driving rain did not stop Shirley Hick from carrying
out her sad annual appointment yesterday but this one was better than most.

For the first time since surviving the sinking of the inter-island ferry Wahine on April 10, 1968, Mrs Hick met
the man who rescued her from Wellington Harbour.

In conditions yesterday which - apart from the absence of 220kmh winds - were not unlike those 32 years
ago when 51 passengers and crew died, Mrs Hick laid flowers at the memorial erected in the victims'
honour.

The flowers were for her three-year-old daughter Alma, who died in the tragedy, and for her son Gordon,
who lived for another 22 years before succumbing to brain damage suffered when the ship sank.

Mrs Hick paid tribute to Donald Vass, of Motueka, who at the time was a cook on the Cook Strait ferry
Aramoana and answered a call for volunteers to man a lifeboat.

"It's people like him that are the unsung heroes. Without him I'd be dead," Mrs Hick said.

"I was 34 at the time and we didn't feel any danger to ourselves," Mr Vass said about what happened that
day.

"Three of us leaned over the gunwale [of the lifeboat] and tipped the lifeboat to lift Shirley," he said.

In the heavy seas the lifeboat overturned but a fishing boat rescued everyone.

Only hours later, the two were parted after taxis dropped survivors at Wellington Railway Station. Mrs Hick,
newly pregnant, was taken to Wellington Hospital to be with her gravely ill son Gordon while Mr Vass went
back to work on the Aramoana .

It was only earlier this year when Mr Vass followed up media reports about Mrs Hick's annual pilgrimage
from her home in Shannon, near Palmerston North, to the Seatoun memorial that contact between the two
resumed.

For both, yesterday's bad weather evoked memories of a day now imprinted firmly in the public mind and
remembered by those who endured the sinking for all the small acts of kindness shown to them.

No blame for mishap 

Wellington: The New Zealand Army has concluded no-one was to blame for a training accident with a
grenade last month in which three soldiers were injured.

Soldiers from Burnham Camp south of Christchurch were conducting an exercise, which included blank and
live ammunition firing, near St Arnaud, between Blenheim and Nelson, on March 30.

Two soldiers received minor injuries and were treated at Blenheim's Wairau Hospital, while a third was
taken to Wellington Hospital with moderate injuries.

DNA report used to urge
                retrial for Watson 

Wellington: A report recomm-ending the Environmental and Scientific Research
labora-tories in Auckland tighten their DNA testing procedures was enough to ensure
convicted murderer Scott Watson got a re-trial, lawyer Bruce Davidson said yesterday. 

Mr Davidson was arguing in the Court of Appeal in Wellington against Watson's conviction and 17-year
non-parole jail sentence for murdering Olivia Hope and Ben Smart.

Miss Hope (17) and Mr Smart (21) were last seen boarding a yacht moored off Furneaux Lodge in the
Marlborough Sounds, on January 1, 1998, after spending the night at a party ashore.

A jury in the High Court at Wellington convicted Watson (29) after a three-month trial last year.

The appeal, before Court of Appeal president Sir Ivor Richardson and Justices Gault and Henry is expected
to end today.

Mr Davidson said former chief justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum's report into ESR testing for DNA followed
false results that wrongly put a Christchurch man at two Wellington crime scenes. These mistakes had been
known at the time of Watson's trial but the report had only been released last Friday.

Hair samples found on a blanket from Watson's boat Blade that the prosecution claimed were likely to have
come from Miss Hope were tested at the ESR and in England and Australia with conflicting results.

Mr Davidson said the case against Watson had been finely balanced.

He said trial judge Justice Heron had been wrong to allow evidence from three witnesses about
conversations they had with Watson as much as a year before the Furneaux Lodge party. In these
conversations, Watson was said to have expressed a hatred for women and to have said he wanted to kill
one.

The value of this evidence in showing identity and motive was outweighed by the damaging effect it had on
Watson's case.

Watson's other defence lawyer, Mike Antunovic, said Justice Heron had been unfair to Watson in the closing
words of his summing up.

"It would be, of course, of considerable benefit if you could put this dreadful event in the life of our country
to finality by a verdict according to law, but only in accordance with the oaths and affirmations you have
taken," the judge had said.

This had the effect of encouraging the jury to reach a guilty verdict, as a not guilty verdict would not have
brought finality, Mr Davidson said.

In reply, prosecutor Paul Davison QC said the case against Watson was not finely balanced but very
powerful if the jury accepted the prosecution's evidence.


                Boy's death inquiry nears end 

Wellington: The Office of the Commissioner for Children has almost completed its investigation into the
death of 4-year-old Havelock North boy James Whakaruru last year.

The boy was beaten to death by his mother's partner, Benny Haerewa (21), who was sentenced to 12 years'
imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Commissioner for Children Roger McClay said the investigation was one of the most extensive conducted by
his office. He would brief Social Services Minister Steve Maharey this week so that he could share
information with ministerial colleagues.

A final report would be publicly released on June 13, he said.

In brief 

  Pilot's appearance delayed

Palmerston North: Former Ansett pilot Gary Sotheran, who was due to appear in Palmerston North
District Court yesterday to face four manslaughter charges, has had his court appearance delayed until May
1.

The charges against Sotheran follow the June 1995 Dash-8 crash in the Tararua Ranges. He faces four
manslaughter charges and three of injuring passengers.

At yesterday's hearing before Judge Les Atkins, Napier Crown solicitor Graham Lang appeared for the
prosecution and Wellington lawyer Brooke Gibson appeared for Sotheran, who was in Britain. - NZPA

  Press secretary remanded

Levin: A ministerial press secretary facing a number of motoring offences while driving a government car
was yesterday remanded for a defended hearing on June 14.

Moana Lynette Sinclair (44), of Wellington, who has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving, resisting police,
and driving while forbidden to drive, did not appear when the case was called in Levin District Court.

The charges relate to incidents at Marton and Foxton on February 13 when she was allegedly stopped for
speeding while driving a government car supplied by Conservation Minister Sandra Lee. - NZPA

  Eight years for sex attack

Invercargill: A man was jailed for eight years, at the High Court at Invercargill yesterday, for sexually
assaulting a girl over a three-year period.

Hare Pu Neho (47), of Invercargill, was previously found guilty of five charges of indecent assault after a
three-day trial in Invercargill District Court on February 16.

He was also sentenced to two years' jail after admitting two charges of burglary on February 3 and
sentenced to six months' jail on a charge of unlawfully taking a trailer at Invercargill on February 2.

All the jail terms will run concurrently.

Next time a sentence of preventive detention would be enforced, Justice Panckhurst said.

In brief 

  Bonus bonds

The first prize of $300,000 in the April monthly prize draw went to bond unit number 4265 252399.

The second prize of $100,000 went to bond unit number 7157 235989.

The third prize of $50,000 went to bond unit number 9487 307341.

  Sprint event victim named

Wellington : Police yesterday named a man who died on Sunday after falling from his motorcycle at Hutt
Valley Motorcycle Club's annual quarter mile standing sprint.

He was Stephen Grant Mills (45), of Lower Hutt.

Mr Mills was racing on a cordoned-off street near Trentham racecourse when he came off his bike on a
corner and somersaulted into a ditch, dying on impact. - NZPA

  Four rescued after sinking

Auckland : Four people were rescued from a liferaft yesterday, after their yacht sank suddenly off Great
Barrier Island. 

The two men and two women were taken to Great Barrier Island after being plucked from their raft by a
fishing crew sent by police to help.

Experienced yachtsman and historian Dr David Lewis (82) had set sail with three friends for Fiji when the
front mast on the yacht, Taniwha , broke loose below the deck and gashed the hull.

Police said the group had a few minutes only to send out a mayday and get into the liferaft before the boat
sank. - NZPA

  Diesel spill causes problems

Christchurch : Police in North Canterbury were busy yesterday clearing up after a 75km diesel spill.

Senior Sergeant Ian Freeman, of the police southern communications centre in Christchurch, said dozens of
calls were received yesterday from motorists who had slid out of control on the diesel.

A trail of diesel had been left along State Highway 1 from Amberley, just north of Christchurch, to 10km
north of Cheviot.

King clarifies directive on hospital staff's wage
                              negotiations 

Wellington: Health Minister Annette King has sent a letter to all hospital executives clarifying her
controversial demand for them to be "cost neutral" in wage negotiations this year.

The letter, sent last Monday, said wage settlements should be made within the total hospital budget rather
than each settlement having to be cost neutral.

It follows criticism by health worker unions of a letter Mrs King wrote in February. That letter advised
hospital heads to minimise pay rises and to make staff work harder to merit more pay. Unions met Mrs King
late last month to discuss their concerns about the directive, especially as many believed the Government
would sympathise with hospital workers and offer pay rises this year.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell said the new letter was a positive
sign the Government had listened to unions' concerns.

Nurses Organisation chief executive Brenda Wilson said the new letter answered nurses' concerns about
pay, working conditions and career development.

Govt puts foot down after
                        snake found 

                           Wellington: Containers from "high risk" countries will be
                           subject to a higher level of inspection following the
                           discovery of a third snake at New Zealand ports in as
                           many weeks, Biosecurity Minister Marian Hobbs said
                           yesterday.

                           A 70cm snake was destroyed on Sunday after being found at an
                           Auckland wharf in a container off a ship which had sailed from
                           Fremantle, Australia.

                           It was noticed by a crane operator, who immediately dropped a
                           container on the snake. It was later killed by a pest company. 

                           Preliminary investigations suggested it was a venomous tiger snake from
                           South Australia, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Maf)
                           spokeswoman Gita Parsot said. It was not known whether the snake
                           was female and its species would not be confirmed for several days, she
                           said.

                           Last month, a poisonous Australian snake was found and killed at
                           Petone, near a storage park with containers from Brisbane. A week
                           later, a tree-pit viper from Indonesia was found alive in a container at
                           Lyttelton.

Ms Hobbs said the discovery of three snakes was unprecedented. Maf would use Quarantine Service dogs
at container terminals to improve snake detection.

Maf was also reviewing the risks and import health standards for shipping containers, to manage the risks
associated with imported goods, Ms Hobbs said.

As part of the review, Maf would measure the efficiency of container inspection procedures; investigate the
use of X-ray technology and detector dogs; target high-risk containers; and contact the Australian
Quarantine Inspection Service to ensure compliance with health standards.

Shipping companies and containers with records of erroneous certification would be identified and targeted
for inspection. 

Earlier yesterday, environmentalists urged the Government to impose tough penalties on exporters shipping
pests here, and to implement better cleaning and inspection regimes for containers.

`Sinister' intent 

Whangarei: Fears are mounting that a man who snatched a three-year-old boy on Sunday had sinister
intentions and may strike again.

The boy was taken from outside a Paparoa house as he played with his six-year-old sister. A member of the
public found him unhurt and wandering beside State Highway 12, west of Paparoa, about 5km from the
kidnap scene some 90 minutes after his disappearance.

Police suspect his abductor's intentions were sinister and were keen yesterday to get reports of sightings of
the kidnapper's vehicle - a dusty, four-door silver-grey 1990s Nissan sedan, possibly a Bluebird or Skyline,
with black wing mirrors on its bonnet.

Detective Senior Sergeant Marty Ruth of the Whangarei police said police were desperate to hear from
anyone who might shed light on the whereabouts of the car or its driver, believed to be a Caucasian in his
30s.

Congregation shrinks over gay role issue 

Wellington: An inability to reach a consensus on gay clergy has led to the loss of
thousands of lay members from the Methodist Church, according to the Wesleyan
Methodist Movement (WMM).

However, Methodist president the Rev David Bush rejects that claim.

The WMM, representing disaffected evangelicals, said about 1200 lay members and 11 ministers had left the
church because it could not bridge the divide between those who accepted gay clergy and those who
regarded them as unrepentant sinners.

But Mr Bush said that out of a membership of 15,000 about 300 had left, four of whom were ministers,
though others had indicated they might leave.

WMM said in a pastoral letter that those on the verge of leaving numbered in the hundreds.

Last year, the church's annual conference in Auckland could not decide whether to set up an evangelical
synod - a separate governing structure for conservative parishes opposed to the ordination of gay ministers.

This indecisiveness has been seen as a betrayal by many conservatives.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Rev David Bromell, a gay man whose ordination and 1997 appointment
to a ministry position created the schism, is strongly opposed to any such synod.

Mr Bush said the church sought to respond to the needs of different groups.

"We turned ourselves inside out to try and come to a decision [on the synod] last year."

The church was giving people space with the aim of keeping them talking and the synod issue would come
up again at November's annual conference in Hamilton, he said.

"I believe there is a way forward."

Foresters urged to adopt marketing focus 

By Vivienne Paterson

Balclutha: New Zealand farm foresters needed to shift their
emphasis to marketing as they are on the brink of becoming the
majority owners of the country's wood resource, Minister of
Forests Pete Hodgson said last night.

Speaking at the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association annual
conference at Telford Rural Polytechnic, in Balclutha, Mr
Hodgson said within 20 years the owners of small wood lots
would be providing most of the timber industry's raw material.

The era of harvesting was now upon New Zealand and it was an
era that had no apparent end, he said.

"The association must be at the table with other forestry interests
debating the issues.

"Yours, individually, is typically a small resource, 5ha here, 50ha
there. Yours, collectively, is a huge resource and it is one that is
largely uncommitted. That is important."

Mr Hodgson encouraged the association to look at becoming
involved with bodies such as Tradenz's Wood New Zealand, to
seek new alliances for harvesting and marketing.

But while it was becoming necessary for the body to look at new emphases, it was essential that these did
not come at the expense of the association's other activities, which included research and development. 

It was also important to keep a collective voice on topics specific to small forest growers. 

But having a voice came at a cost, he warned, "and I am sure the structure of the association and associated
issues will be a topic for some good debate at your annual general meeting".

Conference chairman John Edmonds said the structure and future direction of the organisation had already
been discussed at a council meeting yesterday morning and would be the focus of the annual meeting
tomorrow.

On the issue of indigenous forest policy, Mr Hodgson said the Government did not oppose timber harvesting
from privately owned indigenous forests.

"In short, we have taken a decision not to log any ecologically significant indigenous forests which we
manage. We want to put those forests into the conservation estate.

"Other owners, such as yourselves, can make their own decision whether to conserve or to harvest."

Women testify at inquiry 

Gisborne: Women testifying at the start of the cervical screening inquiry in Gisborne
yesterday spoke of devastation and grief as their lives were turned upside by illness.

Five witnesses gave clearly painful testimony about hysterectomies, biopsies, radiotherapy, colposcopies,
hormone replacement therapy and colostomy bags.

Several said that after treatment they felt as if they had lost their femininity.

The inquiry has been established to examine the performance of former Gisborne pathologist Dr Michael
Bottrill in misreading cervical smears between 1991 and 1996.

The inquiry will sit in Gisborne four days a week until May 11, then from July 3 until July 31.

It will examine whether Dr Bottrill missed an unacceptable number of abnormal smears.

Stuart Grieve QC, one of the lawyers appointed by the Government to represent the interests of the women
affected, said each one had been "shattered by this terrible tragedy" which could have been avoided. 

"At the heart of the matter, the inquiry is about women and women's health and the steps taken to protect it
and, we would submit, a failure to take those steps," said Mr Grieve. 

"I make no apology for being dramatic. A number of women have given their lives as this saga has been
unknowingly unfolding over the years." 

Mr Grieve outlined discrepancies between Dr Bottrill's readings of 23,000 slides and those of the Sydney
laboratory contracted to reread them last year.

"Over 1000 women had their slides wrongly interpreted. Over 1300 women were given favourable reports
when those reports should have been unfavourable.

"Of 853 high grade slides, there were 26 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Dr Bottrill correctly diagnosed
six." 

Mr Grieve said that if the Sydney results were reliable, then "Dr Bottrill was plainly incompetent".

Five-year freeze on NZ tariffs
                          announced 

NZPA Staff Correspondent

Wellington: The Government yesterday announced New
Zealand's remaining tariffs will be frozen for the next five
years in a move they argue will save jobs.

Opposition parties attacked the move, arguing that it would
hit families in the pocket by preventing price cuts in some
imported goods.

The tariff freeze applies to clothing, footwear, textiles and
related industries and will keep tariffs (import taxes) at
19% for most of the goods affected.

New Zealand has tariffs only on a small range of goods
and is one of the least protected economies in the
developed world.

Acting commerce minister Trevor Mallard announced the
decision yesterday, saying the Government would
introduce legislation to stop tariff cuts scheduled for July 1
of this year.

The Green Party, whose backing the Government would
need to pass the legislation, is supporting the decision.

Mr Mallard said New Zealand's past policy of cutting tariffs faster than its trading partners had cost "tens of
thousands, if not hundreds of thousands" of jobs.

The decision means there will be no more unilateral cuts but does not prevent limited cuts being made as part
of free trade agreements with other countries. Such a deal is being negotiated with Singapore.

Mr Mallard said the decision had been signalled in the election policies of both Labour and the Alliance, and
was the same as Labour's policy.

"I think it's sending a signal to New Zealanders that we think jobs are important and we are no longer
following a blind ideological approach to tariffs.

"The signal to other countries is that no longer can New Zealand be relied on to be foolish."

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the freeze would give the fashion and footwear industries time to develop so
they could eventually face world-class competition.

"It seems entirely logical that if Italy can be making money out of high-fashion goods and clothing and shoes
that New Zealand could too, but it takes some time," she said.

National's trade negotiations spokesman, John Luxton, said Labour was ignoring the human face of the
freeze.

"Tariff reductions have cut the price of necessities like clothes and shoes dramatically, and that's helped
people stretch their budgets to pay for other things."

He said freezing tariffs would wipe $40 million a year from the pockets of ordinary people.

Federated Farmers vice-president Tom Lambie said last night the decision was unfriendly to business.

Harvey dismisses claims over election spending 

Wellington: Labour president Bob Harvey yesterday dismissed National claims his party had under-reported
its election campaign spending, saying National was trying to cover up for its own failures.

"They fought a very large and ineffectual campaign and now they've got to pay for it," Mr Harvey said of
National.

National Party president John Slater had earlier claimed Labour under-reported its spending.

He said he was considering a complaint after official figures revealed National spent twice as much as
Labour during the 90-day election campaign period.

Election expense returns to the Electoral Office put National's expenditure at $2.139 million, compared to
Labour's declaration of $1.038 million.

The maximum National could legally have spent was $2.3 million.

Mr Slater said he believed Labour had left out the costs of polling and its pledge card from the returns and
that meant the returns weren't "comparing apples with apples".

Neither had Labour included a "tremendous amount" of party work carried out by trade unions.

He said under election laws, the returns should include spending from outside the 90-day period if there were
benefits accruing from from that within the actual campaign.

"We've put in all our research. You can't tell me that the Labour Party did not have any research and they
are not showing any figures at all for research," he said.

Mr Harvey said Mr Slater's claims were not true and he was trying to divert attention from the cost of his
campaign, which National still had to pay for.

He said Labour did not include the pledge card in its return because the card was produced outside the
campaign period in time for Labour's annual party congress in July.

Labour's overall spending had been higher than in 1996 but National had spent "a hell of a lot" more.

Eckhoff warns flood delegation 

By Dianne King

Alexandra: A delegation to Prime Minister Helen Clark tomorrow to discuss the flooding that has plagued
Alexandra for the past five years should be wary of signing away rights to compensation, Act New Zealand
MP Gerry Eckhoff said yesterday.

"The Government had told the citizens of the West Coast that the logging accord is not a legal document, yet
as part of the miserly $100 million bribe package, they are being asked to sign away future rights for
litigation.

"Alexandra residents need to stay on their toes," Mr Eckhoff warned.

When approached for comment last night, delegation member Alexandra Community Board chairwoman
Daphne Hull said the Government had accepted a meeting with the delegation in "good faith" and the
delegation had no reason to believe the Government would not give it a fair hearing.

It was important Ms Clark and Mr Anderton be made fully aware of the situation the Alexandra community
faced following three successive floods, she said.

"We will be working to achieve a positive result and the best outcome possible for the Alexandra
community."

In brief 

  Tower toppled

Wellington: Saboteurs toppled a telecommunications tower on Porirua's Colonial Knob on Sunday night,
cutting some police portable communications, three radio stations, and the Vodafone mobile network for the
Porirua area.

The 40m tower, carrying several microwave dishes, fell at 10.30pm on Sunday after three of the four
supports were cut. - NZPA

  Prebble escapes

Wellington: Act leader Richard Prebble will not have to face Parliament's privileges committee over a
series of charges against Labour's Hauraki MP, John Tamihere.

Parliament's Speaker Jonathan Hunt ruled out any hearing against Mr Prebble.

Mr Tamihere had alleged Mr Prebble made false claims and misled Parliament about investigations into the
Auckland-based Waipareira Trust, which Mr Tamihere ran until last year. - NZPA

  Doctor apologises

Wellington: Northland Health geriatrician Tus Fernando had apologised for advising a Kaikohe family to let
their mother starve to death, Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels said yesterday.

Controversy broke out last week when the family complained to the health and disability commissioner that
Dr Fernando said 82-year-old Nancy Witehira should be left to starve to death rather than have a
gastrostomy, which would allow her to be fed through a tube directly into her stomach. - NZPA

  Pensioners win

Wellington: ACC will have to pay nearly 300 pensioners $3.8 million after losing an appeal over its decision
to cut off Gisborne pensioner Maureen Watton's compensation payments two years early.

ACC now owes $3.8 million in back pay to 278 pensioners aged 64 to 68 who were injured before July 1992
and lost their compensation early because of the changing superannuation qualifying age. - NZPA

  'Copter not needed

The Tranz Rail rescue helicopter was not needed to airlift a sick Russian seaman off his ship in the Southern
Ocean yesterday. 

A St John spokeswoman said the helicopter had been on stand-by to fly to the ship but the vessel was sailing
to Bluff and would unload the man on to the pilot boat to take him to shore.

The vessel was expected about 6am today.

Winner of award `just Maria' 

Mrs Dickie has to be protected from the sun as she is not allowed to get her skin sunburnt.

While Mrs Dickie's life had changed and she would never be able to work outside again, the couple had
learnt a valuable lesson from the accident, she said.

"John and I have learnt that life's very short and you should live it to the max and take advantage of every
opportunity," she said.

The couple had also met a lot of "really great" people, who had been very supportive.

A banquet was organised in Mrs Dickie's honour before she returned to New Zealand. There were about
200 people in the small town where they were based and 250 people attended the lunch.

Mrs Dickie is unsure of her future plans but, in the meantime, she is enjoying her involvement with Pippins.

As a child, she was a Brownie and Girl Guide, and later a leader, and she began taking Pippins again last
year.

Guides Otago promotion team leader Shirley Nisbet said Mrs Dickie was a very special person. She showed
"great fortitude" and overcame pain and suffering, she said.

Balloon bungy plan approved 

By David Williams

Queenstown: A second balloon bungy operation in Otago has been given consent.

Sunrise Balloon Adventures Ltd's application to operate in Skippers Canyon, heard by the
Queenstown-Lakes District Council-appointed commissioner David Collins last month, was granted
yesterday.

Queenstown Bungy Ltd, which trades as A. J. Hackett Bungy, was granted consent on November 25 by the
Central Otago District Council for a balloon bungy operation.

Sunrise director Hugh McLellan said in a statement yesterday he was very pleased with the decision. He did
not know when the operation would start, as the company had "quite a bit of work to do yet". 

The appeal period against the decision expires 15 working days after all parties have received written
confirmation.

PM advises women 

Wellington: Women on the way up should not make the same mistake as men, which was to put far too
much time into their job, and not enough into their personal lives, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday.

She told a Women and Leadership seminar in Wellington that men who neglected themselves, their families,
their friends and their personal networks could end up lonely and isolated.

One of the culture changes women should be trying to effect was a balanced lifestyle.

"Because, in the end, the family-friendly workplace for example would be of benefit not only to women but
actually to men. We should be advocating that men get a life and start to look at things more broadly as
well."

Women as a group advanced against the background of a broad social context.

"We can either make that more conducive to the progress of women, or less conducive to the progress of
women," Ms Clark said.

Policy issues like equal employment opportunity, which went back a long way in the state sector, was
important.

"People such as Trudy McNaughton of the Equal Opportunities Trust have done their best on a voluntary
basis, but in the end it will take a bit of stick from the law to get people thinking again about equal
employment opportunity."

By Simon Hartley 

The charitable trust that wants to turn Cargill's Castle into a tourist attraction has paid its first instalment on
the ruins. 

Last July, the Environment Court cancelled a Dunedin City Council public access easement condition that
had stalled the castle sale for months, and the trust paid former owner Dave Collett a deposit.

If the easement had been upheld and the sale further stalled, Mr Collett would have demolished the
124-year-old ruin.

Trust chairman Graham Johnston confirmed that, after the deposit, last week's instalment and funding
pledges of $100,000 were taken into account, there was still $60,000 to find for the $180,000 price tag. 

The trust had four more payments to make over the next two years.

"Fund raising has slowed a little lately but we will be focusing on this in the near future," Mr Johnston said.

Three of the original 12 trustees had left the trust, moved away or cited personal business interests
elsewhere, and Mr Johnston said a public meeting would be held soon "to inject some fresh blood and ideas"
into the trust.

The Community Trust of Otago had pledged $80,000 to the castle trustees, and the city council, $20,000, Mr
Johnston said.

However, before the trust could receive the community trust pledge, it had to meet a condition requiring
public access to the castle. 

For more than a year, the trust had faced the opposition of neighbours to public access adjacent to their
properties. 

Mr Johnston said this "had always been the trust's major hurdle" but it would seek resource consent from the
council this year.

"We are working on that and will move it forward this year," he said.

Last year, there were 94 submissions to the council about proposals to subdivide and allow the castle sale to
go ahead - one third opposed and two thirds in support.

Last year, planning consultant Peter Constantine represented the majority of residents opposed to the
sub-division.

He understood the residents intended to keep themselves updated on the trust's proposals.

Educational options needed 

Nelson: The Government should provide alternative education programmes for students expelled from school,
a Roman Catholic women's group says.

More than 100 members of the Catholic Women's League from the Wellington archdiocese met in Nelson at
the weekend for their annual conference.

National president Judith Devereux said the meeting voted in favour of a proposal to ask the Government to
provide alternative programmes for suspended or expelled students.

Mrs Devereux said the country could not afford to continue to "discard" students with behavioural problems
who had difficulty participating in mainstream education.

"An alternative education process must be available for those students," she said.

The Government's decision to encourage the return of apprenticeships was a step in the right direction.

Century's great things on display 

By Marjorie Cook

Can you remember when you first bought a loaf of sliced bread, a modern potato peeler, or rushed to the
railway station in 1926 to farewell Miss Otago on her trip to Timaru?

Not all of us can, but the latest exhibition at the Early Settlers Museum brings it all to life.

The Exhibition of the Century opened yesterday, two days later than hoped. But that did not stop eager
tourists from enjoying a preview of the unfinished display in the Hudson Gallery during the weekend.

The delay was caused by the time it took to pack away the popular exhibition "Reel Gold", staff member
Diane McKellar said.

The new exhibition is a jumbled mix of treasures, records and audiovisual material, described by exhibitions
manager Blair Jackson as a "serendipitous survey of life in Dunedin and the world" from 1900 to 1999.

Motorbikes, ovens and jars line up with flasks, ornaments and boxes. Vacuum cleaners, heaters and books
are displayed next to uniforms, goggles and dresses.

Four of the exhibition's five sections present a chronology of Dunedin, New Zealand, the world, inventions
and discoveries.

The fifth, curator Sean Brosnahan said, did not fit in anywhere else.

The Dunedin chronology section reveals that when "Dunedin's sweetheart" Thelma McMillan (19) won the
Miss Otago title in 1926, her car was mobbed by thousands as she left His Majesty's Theatre.

The next day, thousands thronged the railway station to farewell Miss McMillan and her maid of honour,
Marie Osten (22), as they departed for Timaru.

The Evening Star of October 26, 1926 was jubilant. "It is a long time since Dunedin was so stirred by a local
event," it wrote.

A place has been provided for visitors to record their own reflections on and memories of events such as
this, as well as personal or national milestones.

"Museum staff hope this will provide them with useful information, such as the dates when common
appliances or products made their first appearance in Dunedin," Mr Jackson said.

"Research for the exhibition shows . . . that sliced bread was first sold in America in 1930 . . . but when was
it first sold in Dunedin?"

Better turnout pleases producers 

By Mark Hotton 

Five days is a long time in show business.

Last Tuesday, the producers of Looking Through a Glass Onion, Andie and Darryl Lovegrove, said they
would "think twice" about bringing future productions to Dunedin.

The show is part way through a national tour and finished its Dunedin run on Saturday night.

However, delighted with a strong turnout over the past week, Mrs Lovegrove gave local theatre audiences
the big thumbs up and said a return season would be considered.

"It seems to have been a pattern and tradition in Dunedin where people just wait."

Despite the slow start, Dunedin audiences had outdone themselves with near-full houses at the end of the
tour, she said.

Dunedin theatre-goers waiting until the last minute to buy tickets was a habit which was hard to break, Mrs
Lovegrove said.

Although she had no idea why people waited, she believed it was something specific to Dunedin.

They had been warned Dunedin was the "kiss of death" and Mrs Lovegrove believed audiences needed to
be aware they could miss out on shows because of the lack of early booking.

The Lovegroves owned the rights to the show for three years.

A return to Dunedin with Glass Onion would be considered while they still "had runs on the board", she
said.

"Otherwise, you've got to start all over again."

Council happy with compromise 

Final ruling
on planning
By David Williams

The Queenstown-Lakes District Council may drop an appeal against an Environment Court interim decision,
following the final decision in a case brought by the Wakatipu Environmental Society.

The decision, delivered last week and released yesterday, followed the interim decision released last
October, relating to the planning protections of outstanding landscapes in the Queenstown-Lakes proposed
district plan.

In its interim decision, the court labelled the previous protections as "completely inadequate".

Its final decision, dated April 5, related to subdivision and development in the outstanding natural landscapes
of a defined area of the Wakatipu Basin and the protection of outstanding natural features in the district.

The court said such development could occur if it did not result in adverse effects of a "more than minor"
nature.

Council lawyer Neville Marquet, of Dunedin, said last night he thought the decision was a good compromise,
which gave the council flexibility it did not have before.

"I think it will assist the council in the [planning] game."

The council appealed the Environment Court's interim decision to the High Court, but if the final decision was
accepted by the parties then "we need not go to the High Court".

The court pointed out the decision was a guide and would only be binding if the society wished to reinstate
areas of landscape importance deleted from the proposed district plan.

Planning lawyer Warwick Goldsmith, who represented six parties at the hearings, said the decision was
"down the middle", considering opposing parties were arguing for effectively banning development in higher
areas or opening those areas up to further development.

Environmental society president Barry Lawrence could not be contacted for comment last night.

Rural owners oppose working dog fees 

By Marjorie Cook

The rural owners of working dogs are paying more registration fees so
Dunedin pet owners can have a "gold plated service", Middlemarch
residents believe.

The Dunedin City Council has proposed fee increases this year for
working dogs, increasing Middlemarch farm labourer Steve Marshall's
registration bill for three dogs from $85 to $100.

He would have to pay $50 for his first dog, $30 for his second and $20
for his third and every subsequent dog.

It was not fair that a "toy dog owner" (pet owner) in town could take
advantage of the selected owner policy and merely incur a $35 fee, he
said.

Not so long ago, Mr Marshall had five dogs.

One was put down and the other sold, when a combination of the
drought and a downturn in rural labouring vacancies required him to
"rationalise".

But it was common for farmers and labourers to have six or more
dogs, he said.

The working dog owner should be registered, not the dogs.

Farmers and labourers were subsidising townies, he said.

Mr Marshall is not alone in his vehement opposition to the new fees.

The Strath Taieri Community Board agrees and has asked the council to amend the fees to $10 for second
and subsequent dogs.

"We get no service for the fee, and no impounding. Our neighbours in Waitaki and Central pay $10 and $12.
Why should we have to pay for Dunedin to have a gold-plated service?" board chairwoman Kate Wilson said
last week.

The board has also asked the council to reduce the time impounded dogs must be held.

"There should be a discretion to shoot dogs that have been impounded several times sooner than eight days.
They should be shot within three days," Mrs Wilson said.

Second tunnel at Manapouri reaches halfway 

By Fiona Hill

Construction of the second Manapouri dam tailrace tunnel has reached the midway point, months behind
schedule. 

Contractor Fletcher Dillingham Ilbau was awarded the $200 million contract in 1997 and the 9.8km tunnel
was due to be finished in October this year. 

A spokeswoman for dam owner Meridian Energy, Carolyn Wylie, said yesterday the tunnel boring machine
had reached the 4.9km mark. 

The long delay in completing the project, which one estimate suggests will not be finished until March 2002,
is the subject of a dispute between the contractor and the Government. 

Meridian chief executive Keith Turner told MPs last month the state-owned generator had called in the
engineering expert who helped rescue Britain's troubled Channel Tunnel after construction fell 500 days
behind schedule. 

Fletcher Dillingham Ilbau claimed the delay was due to rock being different from that outlined when it
tendered for the job, Dr Turner told a parliamentary select committee. 

However, Meridian "was not convinced" of that claim, as the 10km long tunnel was just 75m away from an
original tailrace. 

Dr Turner said he was unable to say much about the dispute because it "was subject to the contractual
process". Meridian has confirmed that Fletcher Dillingham Ilbau has lodged a claim for a "substantial"
increase in the $200 million contract price, but has refused to reveal the amount. 

Ms Wylie said yesterday there had been "recent improvements in the performance of the tunnel boring
machine". 

However, she declined to make any comment on the ongoing dispute the Government has with the
contractor.

  Comic pair

Comedians Gareth Hale and Norman Pace are the first to admit their show derives from their obsession with
"toilet humour".

The British duo have been seen recently on New Zealand television screens in their shows Hale and Pace
and Jobs for the Boys, and are part way through their national tour.

The former school teachers and glue factory workers will perform at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday.

  Pottery tuition

School holiday pottery classes for children aged 7 to 12 years are being offered at the Otago Potters Group
clubrooms in Dunedin on April 17 and 18. Bookings are essential and can be made by telephoning 487-9673.

  Poetry reading

Poet and biographer Denys Trussell will present a lecture and reading based on his long poem, Archipelago,
The Ocean Soliloquies , at Dunedin Public Library on Sunday at 8pm. 

The poem, first published in 1991 and republished last year, is concerned with human action and ecological
impact in the history of New Zealand and Oceania.

The Auckland man has published five volumes of poetry, the most recent of which, Walking Into the
Millennium , was short-listed for the 1999 Montana Book Awards. He will also have a paper presented at a
conference on Post-Colonial Literatures in English, being held in Germany this year. 

  Entries close

Entries in the 2000 Hope and Sons Art Awards close on April 17. Open to South Island artists, the
competition is for paintings and other two-dimensional works and has an "open" theme. Entry forms are
available at local galleries and art suppliers, from the Otago Art Society, PO Box 6296, Dunedin, or by
telephoning the society's secretary on (03) 489 4710.

10 May 2000

Front Page News Digest

Quiz Questions for Wednesday, May 10

1 What unusual Dunedin building, surrounded by water, is designated Category 1 by the New Zealand
Historic Places Trust?

2 What are the left and right sides of a coat of arms called?

3 Which West Indian island is linked in a republican government with Trinidad?

4 Where is a farm shed that says "A 5 minute detour. Population 3500. 50 friendly shops. A lovely clean
town"?

5 Which is the only Grand Prix course being used in the 2000 season that goes through a tunnel?

  Answers - p2

World ........ The Regions ........ Editorial ........ Court ........ Business ........ Features ........ Diversions ........
Sport ........ Television ........ Racing ........ Births, deaths ........ Classified index ........ p12-13

Lake Hayes area developments concern residents

By Kerry Williamson

Queenstown: More than 500 houses could soon be built in three different subdivisions near Lake Hayes,
transforming the area and ringing the scenic lake.

In the past week, the Environment Court has approved two massive developments in the Lake Hayes area,
which could see the semi-rural area transformed within the next five years.

A third development is still before the court. If it is granted consent, subdivisions could partly surround the
lake and the area's population could triple.

It is understood Lake Hayes residents are concerned about the encroaching development and will meet
todiscuss the issues.

One resident yesterday said people were "frightened" by the threat of development. However, nobody
spoken to by the Otago Daily Times wanted to voice their concerns on record.

Wakatipu Environmental Society planning spokesman Barry Lawrence described the development as
"horrible" and said locals were being ignored.

The Bendemeer zone, in the process of being approved by the court, will see a 110ha plot of land above the
eastern shore of the lake transformed into a 76-section subdivision.

It would include a lodge, tennis courts and converted woolshed featuring a cafe and gallery and would be
priced at the higher end of the market.

The zone has been in the planning process for five years, after it was appealed by the Wakatipu
Environmental Society in 1995.

The society's concerns meant the subdivision had been significantly altered since it was first taken to the
court. However, the size and number of sections have not changed.

It will be the second subdivision near the lake to get approval from the court in a week, coming just days
after the 100ha, 400-section Lake Hayes Estates was zoned for housing.

That land, nestled at the southern end of Lake Hayes between State Highway 6 and the Kawarau River,
would be divided into about 350 600sq m low density sections and up to 50 lifestyle blocks.

Some 15ha would be used for roading, while about 45ha could be turned into open space and recreation
areas. Some sections would have views of the lake but the subdivision would not be highly visible from either
the lake or the highway.

The subdivisions are within 1km - as the crow flies - of each other and close to the controversial
Threepwood Farms Ltd subdivision proposal, which is still before the court but is expected to gain consent.

That development company plans to subdivide 184.5ha of a 211ha block above the western side of the lake
into 53 residential allotments, a tourist lodge and two open space lots.

It is opposed by Lake Hayes residents, the Wakatipu Environmental Society and the Otago Fish and Game
Council.

Lake Hayes is currently lined by low density housing, farms and reserves. If all three developments go ahead
as planned, it would be partly ringed

                                 Continued on page 3

Fogelberg promises to consult on
                budget review 

By John Gibb

Reduced income through lower student numbers could require a
"trimming of the sails right across" the University of Otago,
Vice-chancellor Graeme Fogelberg said yesterday.

Dr Fogelberg briefed the University Council on latest financial projections
resulting from an updated forecast of student roll numbers.

The budget is being reviewed and Dr Fogelberg has promised full
consultation.

University officials said latest projections suggested the university's
equivalent full-time student (eft) roll for the year will be about 15,065,
down 1% on last year's final roll of 15,214 efts.

This year's roll will also be down about 2.5%, down 391 efts, on the
original budget forecast of 15,457 efts.

Officials said 17,133 full and part-time students had attended last year. The equivalent roll was likely to be
about 17,000 this year. The budget forecast was based on planned student roll growth of about 1.6% over
last year.

Dr Fogelberg said the university's overall income from all sources was likely to drop about $2 million, from
about $188 million to about $186.5 million, taking offsetting factors into account.

Operating income was likely to drop $4 million through lower tuition fees and state funding income resulting
from the lower roll.

"Fortunately, we have been able to cushion ourselves against the total impact of this because of a revised
positive forecast in the international tuition fee figure and a revised upward forecast in our investment
income earnings," he said.

Officials said interest rate and foreign exchange movements contributed to the more favourable income
picture.

Latest student roll forecasts, revealed yesterday, predict student numbers below forecast in all academic
divisions.

There is a predicted drop of 156 efts in humanities from the 4040 efts budget forecast, 122 in sciences ( from
4432), 71 in commerce (3274), and 41 in health sciences (from 3711).

Dr Fogelberg said some reductions in operating spending would have to be achieved if the original budgeted
operating surplus of $9.3 million was to be achieved.

The financial controller's office was looking at where savings could be made in spending of the service
divisions.

However, only about 22% of spending was in the service divisions, with 78% spent in the academic divisions.

"There may have to be a bit of a trimming of the sails right across the university."

Some reductions in original budget allocations could have to be made in each of the four academic divisions.

Originally budgeted capital expenditure amounted to about $56.8 million.

It was likely some capital spending might also have to be deferred if the budgeted forecast deficit of just over
$20 million, after capital expenditure, was to be maintained, he said.

  New department formally approved - page 3

Going, going . . . Fred Gordon (81), of Dunedin, inspects a Husqvarna chainsaw yesterday before an auction
of items which have been handed to the police but not claimed. 

Mr Gordon regularly attends the police auctions at Dunedin Auctioneers. 

Other items include bicycles, jewellery and cameras.

Leak claimed to target Rankin 

Wellington: Former social services minister Roger Sowry said yesterday a draft
ministerial report criticising Winz was deliberately leaked to target chief executive
Christine Rankin.

He said the leak was "very carefully placed" before Winz could answer any criticism and that it allowed the
Government "to target a particular chief executive".

The Evening Post reported yesterday that the report, by former state services commissioner Don Hunn,
made damning criticisms of Mrs Rankin and recommended her powers be clipped.

Mr Hunn gave the draft report to State Services Minister Trevor Mallard about a week ago but the final
report was held up as Mrs Rankin and her senior managers commented on the report.

The final report was delivered to Mr Mallard last night but a spokeswoman said he would not comment on its
content or say when it would be released.

A spokeswoman for Winz said the department would not comment before it was released.

Mr Hunn began the inquiry into the department's style, culture and structure in February.

Key points in the draft are:

  The merger that created Winz was put together in a rush and would probably need about four years to
settle down. 

  Winz departmental chief executives and staff are critical of the management style at the department. 

  A review of the department is essential and its autocratic and corporate culture must change.

Mr Sowry rejected criticism that the merger was rushed and said the department was delivering and Mrs
Rankin was performing satisfactorily. 

A spokesman for Mr Maharey said no decision had been made on a reorganisation.

More funding offered if student fees frozen 

Staff Reporters and NZPA

The Government has offered tertiary institutions a 2.3% increase in funding if they agree to freeze student
fees next year.

The Government has proposed that institutions voluntarily stabilise the level of student fees next year in
return for increased funding of about 2.3% on EFTS-funded (Equivalent Full-time Student) programmes.

The 2.3% suggestion is based on a Consumer Price Index of 1.7% and an additional 0.5% to cover the
income received from student fees.

Institutions have been given about three months to respond to whether the increase will be sufficient for
them to stabilise fees in 2001.

Associate Education Minister Steve Maharey said last night he could not comment on the proposal because it
was part of the budget round.

Otago Polytechnic education services and external relations manager Ross White said the polytechnic still
had to work through the details of the offer.

"But on the whole, because it's an increase on the bulk student fund, it would probably allow us to hold fees .
. . Our general position is that we would go along with this."

An additional 2.3% in EFTs funding would result in a similar level of revenue to raising fees by 4% to 5%.
The polytechnic had forecast its increase to be in that region anyway, he said.

Dr Phil Meade, the University of Otago deputy vice-chancellor, academic, said he had no knowledge of the
specifics of any Government offer and could not comment.

However, the earlier Government funding information was available to tertiary institutions, the better, from a
planning perspective. 

In recent years the university has often complained that late information about Government funding has
made planning difficult.

Neither university vice-chancellor Dr Graeme Fogelberg nor Dunedin College of Education principal Dr
Roger Green could be contacted last night.

Parents unhappy bilingual unit threatened 

By Blair Mayston

Brockville School's bilingual unit looks likely to close next Wednesday, following a roll drop at the school.

But, parents of children in the unit are unhappy and are asking that a meeting with the school to discuss the
unit's viability be put off from tomorrow until Monday so they can seek legal advice and marshal support.

The situation has arisen because about 20 families have left the school community since October.

Based on the lower roll, the Ministry of Education has calculated the school is being funded for 1.4 full-time
equivalent staff more than it is entitled.

The school has been forced to nominate which staff will be cut and announced on Monday night the school's
bilingual unit would be affected. Government funding for the surplus staff ceases on May 17.

Parent spokesman Tom Arapeta said last night parents discussed the unit's uncertain future at a four-hour
meeting yesterday.

Parents were investigating whether there were grounds for legal action. "I understand the school and the
Education Department have got to try and make things better for our Maori kids in school," he said.

Mr Arapeta was unhappy at the level of consultation from the school and board about the decision to cut the
staff from the unit.

"For me, it's a real kick in the teeth . . . We had no inkling about this," he said.

Board chairman Paul Howard could not be contacted last night.

However, he said on Monday night the board had looked carefully at the whole school when it made its
decision on which staff to nominate.

It had consulted staff and would consult parents of the children at the bilingual unit.

Ministry of Education Otago-Southland operations manager Pam Robertson said yesterday the school board
opened the unit with a roll of 30 but, as its roll fell, its viability lessened, she said.

If the unit was to close, there would be no school-based bilingual units left in Dunedin.

A unit at Forbury School closed late last year after a group of parents walked out when contract talks for a
volunteer teacher broke down.

Ms Robertson said parents could choose to send their children to Te Kura Kaupapa O Otepoti, a Maori
immersion school in Fairfield.

$134,000 rates relief for
             expanding businesses 

                                             By Gail Goodger

                        and Fiona Hill

                        Developments worth about $2.35 million will create up to 19 new jobs as
                        two Dunedin and two Mosgiel businesses centralise in the South or expand.

                        A $1 million expansion at the Mainland Products head office comes after
                        the company centralised its call centre in Dunedin.

                        Mainland's customer service call centre in Wellington had closed and 11
                        staff positions were created in Dunedin this month, company financial
                        controller Sandra Kay said yesterday.

                        The increase in call centre staff had prompted the expansion of the
                        Macandrew Rd head office. Construction was under way and should be
                        completed in October. Ten staff had been moved to temporary premises
                        elsewhere in Dunedin in the interim, she said.

                        The expansion of the dairy products company has led to the Dunedin City
                        Council giving it 100% rates relief for the next three years, at a total cost to
                        the city of about $83,258.

                        The construction of 10 studio-style rooms worth about $850,000 started this
                        week at Birchleigh Rest Home and Hospital in Mosgiel.

                        Managing director Peter White said it would generate about six or seven
                        full-time equivalent positions. More staff would be needed to care for
                        patients and maintenance and administration positions would be created.

                        The studio-style rooms would be about 25sq m, roughly double the size of
                        standard rooms. They would be added to the rest home and hospital
                        building.

                        Many people wanted larger rooms so they felt they had a home. 

                        The council has granted Birchleigh 50% rates relief for three years, about
                        $12,850 in total.

                        Donaghy Industries Ltd, which was established in Dunedin in 1876, plans to
                        almost triple the size of its warehouse in Bradshaw St to consolidate its bulk
                        warehousing in Dunedin. 

                        Manufacturing manager Brian Walker said completion of the project, worth
                        about $300,000, would mean the company's Dunedin branch would no
                        longer have to store product in Auckland, Christchurch and Australia and in
                        extra rented space in Dunedin.

                        The expansion should start by September and while it would probably create
only one job, it meant jobs were being retained in the city.

The company employs 95 staff. It produces natural fibre and synthetic ropes, baling twines and yachting
braids.

The council has granted Donaghy's 50% rates relief for three years, totalling about $34,000.

A new onion-processing line worth about $250,000 is being installed at Bush Road Ltd in Mosgiel. It has
about 50% more capacity than the existing onion line.

Managing director Michael Mellon said the demand for sauteed onions from the company's main Japanese
client, a food processor, was predicted to treble to about 1000 tonnes annually from this year.

Two-thirds of the new processing line had been installed and was being tested. 

Staff would not increase from 80 but the jobs and manufacturing plant would remain in Mosgiel, he said.

Bush Road produces salads, soups, stir fries and coleslaw for supermarket sale. It also produces sauteed
onions and fruit concentrate pastes (nectarine, cherry, apple and seedless kiwi fruit) for food processing
businesses. 

The council granted Bush Road 25% rates relief for three years, totalling about $3900.

The businesses said council rates relief encouraged them to stay in the South and gave them leverage to
expand.

School board admits error over report 

By Vivienne Paterson

Lawrence: The Lawrence Area School board of trustees admitted last night it had made an error when it
removed portions from the acting principal's report.

The items removed related to a meeting between board chairwoman Issy Bradfield, the acting principal Allan
Easte and individual staff members to discuss how to improve staff-board relationships.

Mr Easte reported to last month's board meeting that the concerns from these meetings were that
communications needed to be improved, concerns over honesty and integrity needed to be resolved, and
there was concern about the way one staff member was spoken to by schools' trustees association member
Chris Gill.

Mr Gill has been appointed to advise the board in procedural matters.

The board, at last month's meeting, disagreed with this portion of the report and told Mr Easte it did not
accept it and it should be deleted.

Mr Easte, after the meeting, sought advice from the Wellington head office of the Schools Trustees
Association, the Post Primary Teachers Association, three other principals and the Ministry of Education.
The advice from all these was that while the board could disagree with what he said, it had no right to alter
his report.

Mr Easte passed this information on to the board's secretary-treasurer Judy Sanson.

When the minutes were posted on the school notice board, as is the custom, the principal's report had been
amended to omit the controversial items.

Staff representative Brenda Easte, who resigned from the board after the last meeting, had also pinned a
staff report on the notice board This was removed by persons unknown.

At last night's monthly meeting the board admitted the report should never have been altered and undertook
to reinstate the original report.

The board has received a draft of its latest Education Review Office report but will not make the contents
public until it has had a chance to study the report and make comments.

In brief 

  Audit requested

Wellington : Schools could be diverting some of the $24.5 million provided for student work training
programmes into other areas, the Government believes. 

Associate Education Minister Steve Maharey has asked the Department of Labour to investigate how the
student tertiary alignment resource fund is being spent. It aims to allow students to take courses of study or
workplace experience to promote their transition into the workplace.

A ministerial spokesman said anecdotal evidence suggested schools might be spending the money on
day-to-day running expenses. - NZPA

  Man burnt in blast

Auckland : A badly burned man collapsed in a neighbour's shower after his home exploded during an
apparent drug-making attempt.

Detectives say it appears the man, in his early 30s, was making cannabis oil when the volatile solvents used
in the process sparked an explosion.

He was last night in Middlemore Hospital with burns to a quarter of his body. - NZPA

  Fees $1700 a day

Wellington : Former attorney-general and justice minister Sir Douglas Graham was paid $1700 a day to
facilitate a four-day workshop at Wellington City Council, it was confirmed last night. 

The council also spent nearly $100,000 on a report by American consultants, $40,000 on a report about
lifestyles by Clemenger BBDO and $2000 on a study by Infometrics. - NZPA

  Keno draw No 1432

7, 8, 9, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 32, 39, 41, 60, 64, 66, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76.

`Press' staff fight clause 

Wellington: Staff at the Christchurch Press held a series of rolling strikes yesterday in protest at a move they
say will penalise staff who exercise their right under new legislation to join a collective contract.

A spokesman for the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, Tony Wilton, said a clause
management wanted to insert in the collective contract, currently under negotiation, would remove the extra
benefits those workers were getting on individual contracts.

Christchurch Press general manager Don Churchill confirmed last night "a small number" of union members
on collective contracts had held a series of strikes for periods of about 90 minutes yesterday and on Friday.

He said it appeared an "element" in the union was "mischievously trying to escalate a dispute which affects
none of the existing members of the Press collective contracts".

He said the company was not taking an unreasonable approach to ensuring people were not paid twice for
benefits and had agreed to mediation in cases where agreement could not be reached.

Mr Wilton said a settlement had almost been reached when "out of the blue" management wanted to insert a
new clause into the contract. 

The union agreed "double-dipping" was unacceptable, "but neither should you have your pay cut simply for
exercising the right to choose to negotiate collectively," Mr Wilton said. Allowances for exceptional
performance or holding positions of responsibility were among benefits staff would have to forgo. 

Mr Wilton said he understood Independent Newspapers Ltd was trying to force a similar clause at the
Nelson Mail.

Arts festival wins grant of $40,000 from council 

By Gail Goodger

Whether the inaugural Otago Festival of the Arts will go ahead will not be known until the month's end,
despite the Dunedin City Council granting it $40,000.

The council approved the funding this week for the 2000-01 financial year which begins in July.

Festival organisers had originally asked for $120,000 over two years but yesterday welcomed the council's
contribution.

Festival trust chairman Rob Garrett said yesterday, when approached, he understood the restraints the
council was under with contestable budget funding.

Its financial support had been essential, as no other similar festivals in New Zealand had got off the ground
without council input.

"The debate generated in council demonstrated to us they see their role in the inaugural festival as a
significant one," he said.

However, whether the 10-day festival would go ahead in Dunedin in October would only be known when
Creative New Zealand announced if it would help fund the event and business sponsorship had been
confirmed.

Both those sponsorship levels should be known by the end of the month.

Another factor critical to success was the festival programme mix. Festival director Nicholas McBryde said
a programme of about 20 events - which translated into about 99 activities during the festival - had been
compiled. It had yet to be finalised but had to be organised in advance so artists would be available.

A feasibility study was completed before festival organising started and "we're confident we're going to be
fiscally responsible".

No announcement would be made about the festival proceeding until financial partnerships were in place -
"to go forward without that confidence is being irresponsible".

The approach was careful and prudent because the aim was to hold the festival biennially, Mr McBryde
said.

Patrons drink to smoking in bars 

By Jocelyn Stirling

Dunedin smokers are up in arms about a proposal which may mean smoking is eventuallyt banned from
hotels and bars.

They are angry with Health Minister Annette King's move to include hotels and bars in smoke-free
legislation.

Vicki Walsh (33) thought a ban would drive smokers away from bars and would spell financial disaster for
some publicans and hoteliers.

Bryan Clyma (61) said it was fair to ban smoking in areas where food was served and he would be in favour
of separate bar areas for smokers and non-smokers.

However, if a tavern had only one bar and people were not allowed to smoke, he would not use it.

"Smoking and drinking are part of socialising and if I couldn't smoke in a bar I'd rather buy alcohol and have
it at home."

Hugh Wicks (29) felt hot under the collar about the prospect of a smoking ban: "Tobacco's not illegal, so why
should smoking be banned in bars?"

Mr Wicks said if it was a health issue, alcohol should also be banned.

"People under the influence of alcohol may go out and kill someone else on the road or go home and beat up
their wives.

"Have you ever heard of someone doing that after smoking a cigarette?"

Alister Stevic (21) felt the Government should have more important issues to look at than smoking bans. He
felt smoking fitted into the student culture.

Mr Stevic believed it should be up to bar managers to decide whether smoking should be allowed.

Len Whitson (85) did not think a smoking ban would make much difference to him.

"I only smoke a packet of cigarettes a week and only go into a bar on pension day for a bit of company."

Even non-smokers condemned Mrs King's move.

Margaret White (62) said because tobacco was not illegal, people going to hotels and bars to enjoy
themselves should be allowed to smoke. 

She said she enjoyed going to her favourite bar and would be upset if it was forced to close because smokers
stayed away and patronage dropped drastically. 

Mrs White said she would be segregated from friends if smokers were forced to go outside.

"And if they took their drinks outside on to the footpath, would they be had up for drinking in a public place?"

Joseph Browne (79) accused the Government of interfering with human rights.

"I don't smoke but I don't care if other people do because it's their right.

"Surely, the Government has better things to do than pick on smokers."

However, other non-smokers hoped the legislation would become law and smoking would be banned from
bars and hotels.

Mary Ellis (42) said she seldom went into public bars because she did not like the smoky atmosphere.

"It's horrible because my eyes and throat hurt and my clothes smell of tobacco after a visit to the pub.

"But if smoking was banned, I'm sure my friends and I could enjoy a very pleasant evening in a nice clean
atmosphere."

Communication studies approved 

Staff Reporter

Establishment of a communication studies department at the University of Otago was formally approved by
the institution's council yesterday.

In a statement from the university, assistant vice-chancellor Alistair Fox said the new department would
offer four academic programmes, comprising majors in communication studies, film and media studies, visual
culture and linguistics.

Newly-appointed department head, Prof Tony Schirato, from Australia, would take up his position next
month, in time for the beginning of courses next semester.

Prof Fox said more than 300 students had enrolled for the 100-level communication studies and introduction
to media studies papers.

"There has been a steady stream of inquiries about the new programmes . . . indicating that they will be
extremely popular in attracting students from throughout New Zealand."

The communication studies programmes was distinctive in New Zealand because of its broad
multi-disciplinary approach. It had been structured to complement majors in science, health science and
commerce as well as humanities.

"In today's competitive economic environment, employers require university graduates who can act
independently, who are flexible and can adapt to change and who can work effectively within a team," Prof
Fox said.

"The new communications studies programme is designed to meet these needs."

Continued

                                   from page 1


                          Development concerns 

by subdivisions. New roads would be built and the planned Lake Hayes water and sewerage plants would
need to be extended. The area's population - about 300 - could triple.

The developments are also expected to lead to increased traffic in the area, preferred by many people as a
peaceful alternative to Queenstown.

Mr Lawrence yesterday said Lake Hayes and the lower Wakatipu Basin were deemed "outstanding natural
features", but were being destroyed by encroaching development.

He blamed the Queenstown-Lakes District Council for backing the proposals and said the council was
ignoring the feelings of ratepayers.

"It seems that until the community decides to get rid of the present council and its attitudes, then the
landscape will continue to be destroyed," he said.

"In our view, these developments should never go ahead. There is no discretion being exercised."

Nothing friendly in new
                    computer virus 

Wellington: As the Love Bug computer virus epidemic continues to decrease, a
malicious new strain of the virus has surfaced.

The variation of the "Iloveyou" e-mail entitled "Friendmes" was two-thirds more destructive and was capable
of deleting and corrupting all computer files, an anti-virus software company said yesterday.

Symantec New Zealand manager Richard Batchelar said hackers were simply rewriting the original Love
Bug virus but making it more severe. Twenty variations of the virus had now been detected.

Although he did not think the new strain would reach the same epidemic proportions, the public should still be
cautious of the new strain, Mr Batchelar said.

"While the original Love Bug was just an annoyance, the new strain goes beyond that, as it is actually
destructive."

Mr Batchelar said the new strain had not yet reached New Zealand.

Telecom's Internet service provider Xtra said yesterday the rate at which messages with the virus mutations
were being filtered was continuing to slow.

Telecom is justifying moves by its Internet service provider, Xtra, to filter its customers' e-mails in order to
stamp out the "Iloveyou" bug.

By Monday afternoon Xtra had filtered more than 26,000 suspect e-mails since it began scanning for the
virus last Friday morning. Xtra customers receive on average three million e-mails a day.

Telecom spokeswoman Gerry Eller said Xtra had the power to scan its customers' e-mails under its terms
and conditions but filtering was used only in "exceptional circumstances".

  Philippine prosecutors last night ordered the release of the man arrested as one of the main suspects in the
creation of the virus, but said he would still have to answer charges.

Prosecutors said the National Bureau of Investigation had insufficient evidence to warrant holding Reonel
Ramones (27) in custody.

  Up to 10 people may have created virus - page 8

13 years jail for brutal home invasion 

Auckland: A hired hitman has been jailed for 13 years for his role in a vicious home
invasion that put three people in hospital and earned him $500.

Illya Monty Waipouri (32), of Otara, had admitted taking part in a raid on the home of a Manurewa man last
Labour Day weekend, to carry out a "kneecapping" contract allegedly bought by the man's former wife.

Robert Rogers (54), his new partner Lorraine McEwen (56), and her son Rodney McEwen (34) were
subjected to a night of terrifying violence as intruders inflicted injuries so severe that veteran plastic surgeons
were left reeling at the devastation.

Sentencing Waipouri in the High Court at Auckland, Justice Anderson told him the crime was of the type
seldom seen in New Zealand courts.

"It was conceived in wickedness, and carried out in ruthless brutality. You are the ringleader of that
outrage."

The weapons included a car jack used to smash Mr Rogers' face.

Justice Anderson said Waipouri was lucky not to be facing a murder charge.

Patricia Mahutoto (52), the woman alleged to have hired Waipouri, is facing a High Court trial in July, along
with three men accused of taking part in the home invasion - Peter Matahaere, Christopher Hereora and Jay
Wallace.

Justice Anderson - concerned that the co-accused get a fair trial - allowed publication of their identities but
emphasised that the submissions of counsel were not admissible in respect of the alleged co-offenders.

Waipouri went through a depositions hearing with the four co-accused, but pleaded guilty ahead of the trial to
one count each of aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, and two of causing grievous bodily harm
with intent.

Crown prosecutor Simon Moore said Waipouri was a relative of Mahutoto, Mr Rogers' former wife.

Deeply resentful of Mr Rogers' new partner, she allegedly sought someone to "break Robbie's legs for a
thousand bucks".

Waipouri said he was given instructions that Mr Rogers and Mrs McEwen were to be "done over" and Mr
Rogers' kneecaps smashed. He was told there would be $40,000 in cash in the house, and he would be paid
$500.

Waipouri, a Ngatoa gang member, was on High Court bail at the time of the offence, and had 103
convictions for offences including arson and wounding with intent.

Mr Rogers was disfigured for life, with an impaired sense of smell, vision, cognition and ability to learn. Part
of Mrs McEwen's face had to be rebuilt with titanium plates.

Shooter thought 17 year-old
                  victim was a deer 

Rotorua: The man who shot Beau Fathers dead in the bush near Rotorua thought the
victim was a deer, an opinion supported when his dog "pointed" as it did to indicate an
animal, rather than growling when it saw a human, the Rotorua District Court was told
this week.

Anthony William Evanson (47) was charged with careless use of a firearm causing the death of Beau
Fathers (17) near Horohoro on Good Friday. 

He pleaded guilty and was remanded until Friday for sentencing. Judge Eric Anderson ordered the forfeiture
of Evanson's rifle. Prosecuting Sergeant Peter Jenkins said the victim was shot with a single round from a
.308 calibre rifle. He died at the scene very shortly after being shot.

The victim was shooting with his cousin when he was mistaken for a deer by Evanson and his hunting
companion.

Evanson told police he heard a noise which indicated there might be an animal in the vicinity, so he made a
"roar" that imitated the sound of a stag. He knelt down and, through his telescopic sight, saw what looked like
a young red deer hind. He had a small dog with him which pointed, indicating an animal, and did not growl as
it normally did for people, Mr Jenkins said.

"So, believing these factors to indicate an animal, the defendant fired.

"Almost simultaneously, there was a shout and the defendant and his hunting companion ran in the direction
of the shout, about 15m, to discover the victim lying down with his cousin holding him." 

Evanson's hunting companion used a cellphone to call for assistance. The maximum penalty for the charge is
three years' imprisonment or a $4000 fine, or both.

In brief 

  Accused to stand trial

Wellington: The man accused of murdering Terri King in the Tararua Ranges last year will stand trial next
month.

After a three-week depositions hearing, justices of the peace Rangi Johnson and Richard Williams told
Porirua District Court this week they considered there was enough evidence for the man to stand trial.

The man, whose identity has been suppressed, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he stood in the dock
this week.

He was remanded in custody until June 19 - NZPA

  Prison sentence

Wanganui: A 24 year-old man who killed a Wanganui mother while trying to escape in a stolen car from
police pursuit was yesterday sentenced to seven years' prison.

Rikki Maru appeared before Justice Ellis in the High Court at Wanganui.

Maru had earlier pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Leisha Ann Bourne (28) after the Commodore he
was driving hit her car at high speed when running a red light on February 29.

The police chase is still the subject of a Police Complaints Authority investigation.

Child taken on burglary 

Wellington: A burglar who took his 3-year-old daughter with him last month when he stole $20,000 worth of
goods from a property in Oriental Bay avoided going to jail when sentenced in the Wellington District Court
this week.

John Whittington (39) was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, nine months'
supervision and five months' periodic detention for one charge of burglary and one of attempted burglary.

He received three months' periodic detention, to be served concurrently with the other periodic detention
sentence, for assaulting two police officers. He was also disqualified from driving for a year after driving
while disqualified on the same April night.

In Whittington's defence, Simon Hewson said Whittington had been alcohol-free since 1997, except for the
night of the offences.

During sentencing, Judge James Weir said Whittington had 12 previous convictions for driving while
disqualified.

Whittington's offending was also at the more serious end of the scale, given the value of the items stolen.

Mitigating circumstances in the judgement included that Whittington had managed to obtain custody of his
daughter and had remained alcohol-free until the night of the offences. He had also spent the past five
weeks in custody and supervision since parole last August had been constructive for him.

Judge Weir said he was concerned to read in the summary of facts that Whittington took his 3-year-old with
him when he burgled the property.

The judge then warned Whittington to go back to Auckland, where he has lived since getting out of prison
last August and to stay out of trouble.

Allanton project still faces
                  planning hurdles 

By Andrea Jones 

The approval of funding to buy land for a proposed large-scale wood processing development near Allanton
is a "major step forward", Dunedin city councillor Syd Brown says.

However, planning hurdles remain, with a zone change required before the land can be used for a forestry
enterprise park.

Cr Brown, who chairs the council's forestry working party, yesterday said the proposal was an exciting
development for the city, which would deliver jobs.

On Monday, the council approved a loan to cover the cost of $4.2 million for land purchases associated with
the planned enterprise park.

The council has an option to buy farm land just south of Allanton for the planned development and has put
forward a proposed district plan variation so the land zoning can be changed from rural to industrial.

The next big issue was the variation, the hearing of which would start on May 22, Cr Brown said.

If the variation was successful, all types of forestry-related activities, from a sawmill to a timber moulding
plant, would be allowed on the site, as long as they complied with conditions attached to the variation and
obtained the necessary resource consents.

The council had fielded inquiries from national and overseas companies and "the mood of the developers is
wait and see", Cr Brown said. 

If the zone change was approved, the economic development unit would then seek developers for the site.

The forestry enterprise park project has a budget of about $250,000 to cover costs already incurred on things
such as site investigations and purchase options, and including costs related to the proposed variation
process.

Appointing three independent commissioners, rather than one, to hear the variation, in response to public
concerns, has increased the costs by about $33,000.

The working party was discussing an ownership structure that would mean those who wanted to be
occupants of the enterprise park would join a corporate body, which would have rules set by the council, Cr
Brown said.

The council did not want to be a developer but, if it retained full ownership, it would be responsible for work
such as internal roads and earthworks.

Instead, the council wanted to be able to control the end use of the land through a minor ownership stake, Cr
Brown said.

Information on such corporate structures was being sought before a proposal was put before the council.

In brief 

  Naked chef popular

More than 1800 people have bought tickets to see British chef Jamie Oliver at the Dunedin Town Hall on
Friday night. 

Oliver will comment on the culinary efforts of six Otago Polytechnic student chefs as they create dishes
from his book, The Naked Chef . 

Organisers expect the 2500 seats in the hall will sell out.

  Frost recorded

Dunedin residents got a taste of winter yesterday, waking to the city's first significant frost of the year.

The Musselburgh Pumping Station recorded a 5.2degC frost overnight. 

Dunedin Airport had a 3.5degC frost, the lowest grass temperature to be recorded at the site so far this year,
according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

  Soprano selected

A former Dunedin woman has been chosen to participate in the month-long Pacific Music Festival in July
and August.

Soprano Marla Kavanaugh will take part in the festival, founded by Leonard Bernstein, in Japan.

More than 100 singers and orchestral musicians have been chosen to perform. 

At present, Kavanaugh is performing as principal in The Secret Marriage in San Francisco.

  Correction

Wellington doctor Chris Sutcliffe says he has never been a "principal" of aviation company Wel Air, as
described by Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Martyn Gosling in an article in the Otago Daily Times on
Friday.

Dr Sutcliffe said yesterday he had only ever been an employee, as chief pilot, of Wel Air. He had never had
any financial interest in the company, other than being an employee.

  Fuel cans stolen

Fuel cans from boats in the Otago Peninsula area have been targeted by thieves recently.

Senior Constable Lox Kellas, of Portobello, said five fuel cans had gone missing in the past 10 days. Two
were taken from boats parked in driveways at Macandrew Bay homes.

Council given update 

By John Gibb

University of Otago vice-chancellor Graeme Fogelberg yesterday briefed the University Council on inquiries
into an alleged breach of genetic research regulations in Christchurch.

The Environmental Risk Management Authority is investigating a possible breach involving research on
genetically modified organisms by a group of researchers linked to the university's Christchurch School of
Medicine.

The public was excluded from yesterday's University Council meeting during the briefing.

Dr Fogelberg said the university was continuing to co-operate fully with the authority in its investigation.

He was aware of no further alleged breaches involving Otago University research.

Other motorists saw, evaded accident victim on
                                 highway 

By Craig Page 

The Invercargill man who died after being hit by a vehicle south of Dunedin on Sunday night was narrowly
missed by other vehicles earlier in the evening, police said.

The body of beneficiary Geoffrey Keith Roderique (50) was found in a roadside ditch on State Highway 1,
just north of Lindisfarne, about 8.30am on Monday.

Police believe he was hit by a maroon coloured Japanese vehicle about 11pm, although the vehicle had yet to
be located.

Detective Sergeant Steve Gregory, of Mosgiel, said the driver was aware of the collision as the vehicle lost
its left hand wing mirror, a head light dust cover and paint during the impact.

About the time of the accident, witnesses reported seeing a vehicle stop about 600m from where Mr
Roderique's body was later found. Two people got out of the vehicle and appeared to look around.

They then got back in the vehicle and continued travelling south, "possibly not knowing they had hit a
person".

Det Sgt Gregory confirmed other motorists had reported seeing Mr Roderique walking south on Sunday
night. Some were forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting him.

He was walking on the road, wearing dark clothing and was difficult to see, he said.

Mr Roderique was first noticed about 10pm on the Green Island Motorway. He was picked up by a motorist
about 10.30pm and given a lift to Sunnyvale. He was later picked up at Fairfield and taken as far as East
Taieri.

Det Sgt Gregory remained hopeful the occupants of the vehicle involved in the accident would come
forward. However, he said the delay in contacting police, despite widespread media coverage of the fatality,
was concerning.

Police yesterday continued to make inquiries with panel beaters in the South to see if any similar vehicles had
been brought in for repairs.

A piece of head light cover, found at the accident scene, was taken to local car dealers to try to determine
what type of vehicle it belonged to. That line of inquiry had so far been unsuccessful.

By law, drivers involved in accidents were required to stop immediately and check for injury or damage. An
accident involving injury or damage to property must be reported to police as soon as is practicable, and not
later than 48 hours after the incident.

Free night showing of Hotere works at gallery 

By Mark Hotton 

Art fans have an extra opportunity to see Ralph Hotere's "Black Light" exhibition at the Dunedin Public Art
Gallery tomorrow. 

The gallery will open from 5pm to 9pm.

Contemporary art curator Justin Paton said the free night opening would give "harried workers" the chance
to view the exhibition out of normal working hours.

Visitors would have the opportunity to take part in a floor talk on the exhibition at 7pm and watch the 1974
video Ralph Hotere and the Founders Theatre Mural . 

The night opening would also provide a different way of seeing the show, as extraordinary reflections would
come off some works creating a "stunning visual environment", he said.

"People can see the work in a new light and pack in a fair bit in a night."

Health issues taught using peer educators 

By Fleur Robinson

Sex, drugs, eating disorders, alcohol issues and depression are the focus of a student health education drive
at university halls of residence.

Health educator Chris Griffiths, of the University of Otago's Student Health Service, said the campaign was
being piloted at four halls of residence this year.

St Margaret's College, University College (Unicol), Selwyn and Studholme will each have an information
stand on one of the topics, manned at times by peer educators.

Quizzes and a panel forum on sexual health are also being held during the campaign.

Ms Griffiths said the five issues were highlighted by students several years ago as being problematic for
themselves and their peers.

"We've got no statistics to say things are getting worse but we do know we have problems with these
issues," Ms Griffiths said.

"They're something that's not going to go away." 

People assumed students knew all about those issues but the amount of interest generated showed they did
not.

Peer educators had been on a two-day camp before starting the campaign, Ms Griffiths said.

"We're letting peers direct the information rather than health professionals." World research showed people
were more open with their peers than they were with health professionals, as well as being more influenced.

"It's about partnership, both the experts and young people working together."

A sexual health forum at Unicol on Thursday next week finishes the campaign.

State income-related rents by
                         end of year 

                            By Fiona Hill

                            Income-related rentals for low income state housing tenants could not
                            come soon enough, Dunedin social agencies said yesterday.

                            Many low-income people were paying 50% and up to 80% of their
                            benefit or wages for accommodation, spokeswomen said.

                            Minister of Housing Mark Gosche announced last week the legislation
                            needed to make the change would be brought to Parliament before the
                            end of May, with a December 1 start date for the new rentals.

                            It has not been announcedyet what the definition of"low income" will
                            be, butMr Gosche has indicated inpast statements that the new policy
                            would "essentially restore the income-related formula applied in the
                            1980s when Labour was in government".

                            Anglican Methodist Family Care Centre spokeswoman Catherine
                            Good-year said yesterday the move by Mr Gosche was "extremely
                            positive".

                            "The rent issue has been a killer for many people over the last few
                            years."

                            Rents had been the majority cause of people having difficulty coping
with budgets in that time, she said.

It was not just state housing tenant who had been affected, as many people, with the introduction of market
rentals, had moved into private accommodation.

However, that had had hidden costs, as privately owned rentals were sold and people had to move on.

Budget Advisory service co-ordinator Shirley Woodrow said quite a high percentage of the people the
service saw were paying 50% of their funds in accommodation, leaving little for food, electricity, clothing and
medical supplies.

Market rentals had been particularly hard on single people living on their own on a benefit. The previous
Government had suggested these people should move in with others or their parents, but that was not always
possible or desirable.

Income related state rentals were an election pledge from the Government and Mr Gosche said it was
pleasing to have them planned for introduction well ahead of earlier plans to have them "sometime in the next
three years".

River issues discussed 

By Dianne King

Alexandra: The confluence of the Kawarau and Shotover rivers was the focus at a meeting of local authority
leaders and staff from the Clutha river catchment yesterday.

The meetings on river-wide issues have been held regularly since the floods of November last year and, in
Alexandra yesterday, Clutha Solutions co-ordinator Alex Adams said they had been a positive result of the
floods. He hoped the liaison between the councils would continue.

Auckland consultant and hydrologist Peter Riley presented the results of investigations of the upper Kawarau
River for the Queenstown-Lakes District and Otago Regional Councils.

After the meeting, Mr Adams said there had also been further progress on emergency management. It was
a major project and should be completed by the middle of the year.

When asked if the meeting had previewed the detailed Optimx report for the Future Directions of Alexandra,
Mr Adams said that report was a specific "regional" issue, while the combined meeting was for river-wide
issues.

"There has been very good recognition that the catchment-wide approach is important," Mr Adams said.

Six seamen leaving 

By Simon Hartley

Six of 27 Russian seamen stranded in Dunedin aboard the fishing vessel Orlovka are preparing to return
home voluntarily, Pesca Maritime ships' agent Peter Montgomery said yesterday.

The seamen had been waiting for payment of wages since December.

"I understand they are preparing to go home soon.

"There should be word out of Russia by the end of the week," Mr Montgomery said about the men being
paid.

The Orlovka and 27 crew arrived in Dunedin in December and one of five sister ships, the Osha , arrived a
month ago with a skeleton working crew.

Mr Montgomery, who speaks Russian, maintained the men would be paid overdue wages and was waiting
for confirmation from Russia of the date up to which the 27 seamen would be paid. 

The five squid boats were involved in a protracted legal battle last year, following their involvement in illegal
fishing and the subsequent receivership of a New Zealand partner in a joint-venture arrangement with a
Russian fishing company.

The vessels have since been bought by a separate Russian trust.

Funding almost satisfies need 

By Simon Hartley 

A funding boost for a further four rural South Island GP practices would take the pressure off the worst
affected practices, Rural Health Unit director Dr Pat Farry said yesterday.

Last week, Health Minister Annette King announced a total of $750,000 would be given to 13 rural GP
practices, including seven South Island practices in Owaka, Ranfurly, Otautau, Roxburgh, Tapanui, Twizel
and Lumsden, each of which would get between $40,000 and $75,000.

In his assessment of the rural practice support scheme, Dr Farry said that if a further four practices were
subsidised in the South Island, "demand would be satisfied".

"It would initially take care of all the South Island practices under stress, or threat of closure, if more money
could be found before the next budget," Dr Farry said.

In a statement last week, Mrs King said the payments were to help address problems that included
remoteness, doctors' workloads and isolation, small population bases and socio-economic factors, Mrs King
said.

Dr Farry said he saw the $750,000 payment as "very much" part of a pilot scheme and he planned to speak
with Mrs King soon to see if the Government would be "targeting" more practice support in the near future.

Two payments will be made to the 13 practices, one third in this financial year and the remainder by the end
of the next financial year. 

All the money that had originally been offered by former Minister of Health Wyatt Creech had been
delivered by Mrs King, he said.

But Dr Farry hoped the remaining four rural practices in the South Island that were in difficulty would not
have to wait until the next budget before getting assistance.

Car clipped by train 

By Sally Rae

A 31-year-old Oamaru man was lucky to escape serious injury yesterday after trying to "beat a train" in
Thames St.

The man was driving a Ford Falcon car south along Thames St about 5pm.

There was a line of vehicles in the inside lane and, as he approached the railway crossing, the bells were
starting to ring.

He crossed into the other lane and tried to "beat the train", Constable Pete Dalwood said last night.

The rear of the car was clipped by a southbound goods train and the vehicle spun in a circle.

The driver was taken to Oamaru Hospital for observation and later discharged. Charges would be laid, Const
Dalwood said.

The track was checked and cleared by about 6.45pm.

Firm prices for sheep 

A yarding of 970 sheep sold to a very strong market at the Burnside stock sale held in
Dunedin yesterday.

Prime lambs remained firm and the large yarding of store lambs increased by up to $3.50 a head. All adult
ewes improved in price by up to $2.

Prices were. -


Dunedin District Court 

An 18-year-old unemployed man at the centre of an armed offenders squad call-out to a house in Hillary St,
Pine Hill, on Monday afternoon has been remanded in custody until later this month. 

When the man's name was called in the Dunedin District Court yesterday in relation to an Arms Act charge,
counsel Elizabeth Bulger said he was not present. He was at Ward 9A Wakari Hospital. 

The man is charged with unlawfully possessing a single-barrelled shotgun and two .22 rifles, on May 8.

Miss Bulger asked that, in his absence, he be remanded without plea to May 23 and that he remain at
Wakari Hospital.

Judge John Macdonald agreed and also allowed interim suppression of the man's name on the basis of
"apparent significant psychiatric issues".

DISORDERLY

Xarissios Dinou (19), unemployed, was convicted and ordered to pay court costs $130, reparation $64, when
he admitted behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause violence.

The charge arose from his actions, when heavily intoxicated, after being asked to leave K C's Bar about
3.50am on March 31.

Dinou had very little recollection of the incident, counsel Jim Takas advised.

The reparation is for a security officer's shirt which was ripped. 

DRINKING DRIVER

Gwyneth Sharyn Treacy (50), receptionist, of Mosgiel, driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of 809mcg
at Mosgiel last Wednesday, convicted, fined $500, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months.

  The following cases were before Judge Gary MacAskill on Monday. 

TELEPHONE CALLS

He liked to give the police a hard time. He hated them, Ronald James Sharples (48), unemployed, said in
explanation for telephone calls he made last Wednesday. 

Charged with using a telephone to annoy Constable Craig Alan Brown, Sharples pleaded guilty.

Prosecutor Sergeant Tom Scouller said Sharples was stopped on Cumberland St and ticketed for a traffic
offence at 1am. Fifty minutes later, and again at 2.02am, he rang police control and abused staff. Warned he
would be arrested if he continued or rang back, Sharples made two further calls. 

He was convicted and fined $250, court costs $130.

DISQUALIFIED DRIVING

Te Rangi Maria Parker (30), fisherman, was fined $450, ordered to pay court costs of $130, and banned
from driving for six months from May 20 next year when he admitted driving while disqualified. 

Parker was disqualified indefinitely on May 20 last year, Sgt Scouller said. He was caught driving in Bedford
St on March 30 and admitted he was disqualified. 

DRINK-DRIVING

Keinosuke Ryu (26) driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of 768mcg on George St last Sunday,
convicted and fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months. 

Tina Ann Hurndell, also known as Nicky Marie Lee (27), driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of
822mcg on Arthur St on April 25, convicted and fined $1200, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for
12 months; breaching community service at Christchurch last December 9, convicted and discharged. She
had one previous drink-driving conviction.


8 June

`The buck stops here' for first time today 

By Bill Campbell

The first of six "the buck stops here" awards will be presented in Palmerston today.

The awards are being made by the Palmerston Gateway to Gold promotion group for positive community
initiatives undertaken in East Otago

The first awards are being presented to the Waikouaiti Golf Club, Appelby's Gift Shop, Trash Converters,
Hilary Gray of Palmerston Food Centre and the Palmerston Playcentre. 

Their awards are for support to the recently established banking facility in Palmerston.

Unions view action over Bill 

By Dene Mackenzie

Labour MPs face unprecedented opposition from trade unions if the
Employment Relations Bill is delayed or dramatically changed, according
to high-ranking union sources.

Any changes to union access, collective bargaining or good faith
bargaining are seen as trigger points for unions who spent large amounts
of money promoting the Bill during the election campaign.

Union sources told the Otago Daily Times they were less than
impressed with media reports Finance Minister Michael Cullen attended
a breakfast meeting at the Auckland Club's Cathedral Room with
business people who had sent a "very robust letter" criticising
Government policy.

Dr Cullen was said to have been under no illusion about the extent of
concern in senior business circles over the Reserve Bank's monetary
policy regime.

Among actions being considered by unions is suspending funding for the
Labour Party and protest action on the streets.

Union officials spent much time and effort preparing briefing papers for
cabinet ministers but have been disheartened to see announcements
being made by Prime Minister Helen Clark and her ministers which bear little or no resemblance to
previously discussed positions.

Continued on page 3

Front Page News Digest

Quiz Questions for Thursday, June 8

1 Which Dunedin lawyer, who has a public reserve named after him, was mainly responsible for instituting
Arbor Day in New Zealand from 1882?

2 Of which US state is Austin the state capital?

3 The epic poem Paradise Lost contained the first known use of the expression "All hell broke loose". Who
was the author?

4 It has been known as Rakiura, New Leinster, and Solander Island. What is it now called?

5 Which team won the inaugural Six Nations Rugby trophy in Europe this year?

  Answers - p2

Outrage over toilet camera 

                                                      By Murray Kirkness

                                              and NZPA

                                              The discovery of a hidden camera in a unisex
                                              toilet cubicle at a West Otago sawmill has left
                                              employees too distraught to use the toilet at
                                              work.

                                              Workers at Tapanui's Blue Mountain Lumber
                                              were yesterday outraged over the invasion of
                                              privacy, saying it was "the lowest of low acts".

                                              Blue Mountain Lumber's owner admitted
                                              yesterday the hidden camera had not been a
                                              good idea.

                                              Ernslaw One managing director Thomas Song
                                              said in a statement the workers concerned had
                                              been given apologies.

                                              In their eagerness to find drug users at work,
                                              site management had "missed the point" that
                                              the camera might be offensive to employees,
                                              Mr Song said, adding that the camera was
                                              never turned on by management. 

                                              A TV1 news item last night said Mr Song
                                              claimed a quantity of drugs had been found in
                                              the toilet in question and marijuana smoke had
                                              been frequently encountered by employees.

                                              Employee Tracy Sheehan, head delegate of
                                              the National Distribution Union (NDU) on site,
                                              said yesterday she found the camera in the
                                              toilet ceiling last Wednesday, but believed it
                                              had been installed three weeks ago.

                                              "I was approached by a worker who said he'd
                                              heard rumours about a camera in the toilet,"
                                              Ms Sheehan said.

                                              "So we pulled the tin off the roof and saw the
camera.

"It wasn't wired up, but we told management to remove it immediately."

Ms Sheehan said the "pen-like lens" was connected by cable to a video camera in the sawmill's office.

"We were told that the camera wasn't used, but if you put one in then obviously you have every intention of
using it," Ms Sheehan said.

"We are just disgusted, totally disgusted.

"It's amazing how demoralised people feel when their privacy is invaded.

"There are a lot of people - women especially - who are too scared to use the toilets at work."

"

She believed the camera had been installed to catch a worker management believed had taken drugs at
work.

"We don't condone drugs. If anyone is under the influence of drugs, then they are endangering their own life
and those of others around them," she said.

"But there are other ways to solve these problems."

The 255 employees at the sawmill are now waiting on NDU lawyers to come up with options for further
action.

NDU wood sector Otago-Southland organiser Andrea Rushton said the options - believed to include action
under the Privacy Act and possible compensation - would be presented to a meeting of workers in a few
days. They would then decide what to do.

Continued on page 3

Support for monument
By Fleur Robinson

The proposal to put a large Celtic cross in Dunedin's Queens Gardens has drawn opposition from some
potential neighbours but support from the city's council and historical organisations. 

Planned to be 6m high and 1.75m wide, the Oamaru stone-coloured concrete cross is the millennium project
of a group of combined churches in the city. 

In a report to the council resource consent hearings committee by city planner Greg Mason and senior
planner Bruce Richards, the reasons given for placement of a cross are as a permanent icon to mark 2000
years of Christian activity and also to commemorate the significance of the Presbyterian Church in the
foundation of Dunedin. 

Incorporating Maori and Celtic design, it is estimated to cost $45,000, some of which will be directly funded
by churches and the rest raised by church efforts. 

Mr Mason's report says last year the council accepted the offer of the cross as a gift to the city, subject to it
getting resource consent, and accepted maintenance costs of $500 per annum. 

However, nine parties disagree over consent, four of whom are due to appear at the public hearing which
will be held at the Edinburgh Room of the Municipal Chambers today. 

Reasons for opposing the memorial include the location being unsuitable, given the size of the cross; its
potential to spoil the open space of Queens Gardens and to dissipate the significance of the Anzac memorial;
the potential to disrupt views; the cultural effects on non-Christians; pedestrian and traffic safety; the
possibility of attracting skateboarders; the use of public land not being appropriate; the lack of relevance to
the site and uninspiring design and materials. 

Three parties are in support, including the Otago Settlers Museum and New Zealand Historic Places Trust,
on the basis the cross would add to the interest and appearance of the heritage precinct. 

In its submission, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust noted the possibility of significant archaeological
finds, given the proposed site was the low tide mark of the waterfront before reclamation. It requested an
archaeologist be present during excavations. 

The council planners' report recommends consent be granted as Transit has no objections, there are three
pedestrian crossings nearby, the cross would be smaller than the Cenotaph, surrounding trees and buildings;
appropriate colouring; tolerance to religious beliefs; no deep excavations needed; no encroachment on main
open area and the cross being in keeping with other memorials in area.

In brief 

  Jeep Cherokees recalled

Wellington : Daimler Chrysler is to contact the New Zealand owners of 274 Jeep Cherokees as part of a
worldwide recall following the discovery of an airbag fault.

The vehicles involved were made between 1997 and 1999 and total 474,000 worldwide.

Daimler Chrysler New Zealand service manager Jon McIlwain said and no malformations had been reported
in New Zealand. - NZPA

  Journalist killed near home

Auckland : A journalist (23) killed on her way home from work on Tuesday night was left naked in a
reserve near her house.

The woman was found early yesterday about 150m from her Glen Innes home. Her handbag was nearby,
with its contents strewn about.

The woman had not been named last night. - NZPA

  Student hurt in relay

Auckland : Police yesterday criticised teachers for failing to properly control their students after a student
(17) in the Olympic torch convoy in Auckland was run over by a bus.

The girl is in Middlemore Hospital with serious leg injuries after she slipped and fell under the wheels of a
bus in suburban Mangere at 12.45pm yesterday. - NZPA

  Meeting makes progress

Wellington : Great progress had been made at a meeting of Apec trade ministers, putting multilateral
negotiations back on track, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said yesterday.

He had been attending a two-day meeting of trade ministers of Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation in
Darwin, Australia. – NZPA

Anglican diocese raises funds for Fiji 

By Craig Page

The Anglican Diocese of Dunedin has launched an appeal for its Fijian counterparts, as the coup forces the
Diocese of Polynesia into financial difficulty. 

Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, the Rt Rev Penny Jamieson, said yesterday she was hopeful the city's 30
parishes could each raise at least $1000 for the appeal. 

Advice from Fijian church officials had indicated cash donations were the best form of support at the
moment, she said. 

"With the way the situation is, there are huge difficulties trying to get property or anything else over there." 

Bishop Jamieson said the Diocese of Polynesia was facing a drop in income of around $F140,000 this year. 

Most Fijian districts carried out fund-raising from June until October to supplement Sunday offerings, but the
coup would prevent that happening. 

St Christopher's Home in Suva had already been under attack from rebels looking for food and money. It
would probably have to be evacuated. 

The diocese had also appealed for assistance to feed 64 people at the St John the Baptist Theological
Centre. 

Contributions could be sent to the Diocese Officer, PO Box 5445, Dunedin. Cheques should be made
payable to the Diocese of Dunedin.

Young singers please with many styles 

                                              By Andrea Jones 

                                              Anticipation was clear from the buzz of
                                              teenage voices at the Dunedin Town Hall last
                                              night. 

                                              More than 350 secondary school students took
                                              part in last night's "The Big Sing" regional
                                              secondary schools' choral festival at the
                                              Dunedin Town Hall.

                                              An appreciative audience of about 300 people
                                              attended the three-hour event.

                                              Thirteen choirs from Owaka, Oamaru,
                                              Dunedin and, for the first time in Dunedin,
                                              Timaru competed before judge John Rosser
                                              for the chance to be recommended to go to the
                                              national final in Wellington in August.

Mr Rosser said singers had to remember they were performers and the audience deserved to be entertained.
Choirs needed to communicate the feeling and emotion of a song "beyond the page" and inject some drama
into their pieces.

A great variety of choirs and repertoire styles was on show. 

The Columba College Madrigal Choir won the trophy for best performance of a New Zealand composition,
but Mr Rosser did not disclose his recommendations for the national final. Choir recordings will be compared
with others from all over New Zealand and the top 20 choirs will attend the final, which will be held as part
of the Youth Arts 2000 festival.

Tetraplegic's condition improving 

Christchurch: Blenheim tetraplegic Brian Park's condition has improved since he was filmed asking for the
right to die.

Mr Park (32) is at the Burwood Spinal Unit after his neck was broken in a truck crash three months ago. 

He is unable to move his limbs or breathe for himself.

More than two weeks ago, he wrote to Canterbury Health requesting the right to end his life and a television
programme showing him make the same request was screened on Tuesday night.

However, the spinal unit's clinical director, Dr Richard Acland, said yesterday Mr Park had made progress
since the filming. He was now able to sit up and was in less pain.

However, if doctors considered Mr Park's clinical state had plateaued, they would accept his wish, Dr
Acland said. – NZPA

Alexandra ground tests likely
                        to start soon 

By Dianne King

Alexandra: The Otago Regional Council last night gave a commitment it would immediately start
investigating whether ground conditions on the Alexandra waterfront would allow the "floodproofing" of the
town.

About 100 residents who attended a public meeting in Alexandra heard regional council chief executive
Graeme Martin give the assurance. Given the lack of opposition to flood-protection barriers, a start could be
made soon on testing ground conditions to determine whether they were a suitable base for effective flood
barriers, he said.

The meeting was called to give residents an opportunity to discuss the Optimx consultants report on
directions for Alexandra after last year's flood. 

Optimx Ltd consultant John Easther, who earlier outlined the draft strategy in the report, said $645,000 had
been budgeted for engineering investigations, design and supervision.

After the meeting, regional council deputy chairman Duncan Butcher said the Central Otago District Council
had already given its approval to ground tests.

"The meeting tonight has given us enough to go ahead and start on some investigation works." 

It was important the work should be under way before funding for flood-proofing was approved by the
Government.

The regional council would finance the investigations, but would seek repayment.

Mr Easther, Clutha Solutions co-ordinator Alex Adams, district council chief executive Steve Green and Mr
Martin answered questions relating to silt removal, flood levels, the unkempt condition of land taken after
previous floods, money available for the project and who would oversee the project, and payouts to
flood-affected residents.

Laurence O'Connell, self-professed flood-issues "stirrer", said Alexandra people should "get right in behind
what Optimx and Alex Adams have produced", as it would be "pivotal [to] what is going to happen to this
town".

Union discontent grows 

Union activists are starting to remind their local Labour MPs how many of them stood on traffic islands at
6am during the election campaign holding placards urging motorists to vote Labour and the Alliance. 

Otago Council of Trade Unions executive members met Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson last Saturday to
express their concerns over the delay of the Bill.

However, the discontent goes deeper than just the Employment Relations Bill. Unions believe youth rates,
four weeks annual leave, paid parental leave and other "social" employment issues are at risk. After six
months in power, Labour appears to be sidelining Alliance campaign pledges.

Tensions within the coalition peaked last week after Ms Clark criticised Alliance leader and Deputy Prime
Minister Jim Anderton. In the same week, the Government said there would be no funding for the Kiwi bank
and the 12 weeks of maternity leave, funded by employers, was not on the agenda.

Any action by unions will hand the Alliance an opportunity to differentiate itself from its senior coalition
partner and could help lift the party back above the margin of error in opinion polls.

CTU general secretary Paul Goulter played down talk of direct union action against the Government but
admitted the CTU was regarding the actions of the Government with a "raised eyebrow".

The CTU was talking regularly with the Government and seeking a timetable for key employment legislation.

"It turns on issues. Helen Clark has indicated health and safety and employment changes will continue."

The CTU was concerned about where the youth rate legislation would rank and any delay in the adult pay
rate becoming effective at 18.

School technology challenge leads to some unusual tasks 

By David Bruce

Building a mouse ladder from straws, making
umbrellas and matchbox vehicles were some
of the challenges faced by 281 students taking
part in the BP Technology Challenge, as
6-year-old Ryan Whitburn (left), of Ardgowan
School and 7-year-old Taneil McDougall from
Kakanui discovered yesterday. 

The Ardgowan, Five Forks, Enfield, Kakanui,
Maheno and Papakaio Primary Schools
combined for the hands-on learning experience
in which teams of three or four students
competed to complete technology-based tasks.

The design and build tasks, using simple
materials, are part of the challenge with junior
pupils competing at Ardgowan School and seniors at Enfield.

Slip site could move again 

By David Williams 

Queenstown: The hillside above Frankton Rd which slipped last year is "marginally stable", an engineer
contracted to the Earthquake Commission says, and there is a chance of future movement.

However, the commission has fulfilled its obligations to ensure there is no "imminent" danger to property, the
engineer says.

Last month, the commission confirmed it would pay out about $4 million on 20 Frankton properties affected
by two large slips during last November's record flooding.

Engineering firm Sinclair Knight Merz was employed by the commission to investigate the Frankton and
Towne Pl slips last year.

Sinclair Knight Merz geotechnical manager Grant Murray, of Auckland, said from Australia yesterday that
there was a "good chance" of future movement.

"Geologically, the hillside is marginally stable and after the events of last year that brought it home to people.
And that's, unfortunately, the way it is."

However, it was hard to say what a good chance was.

"Even if we spent millions of dollars on that hillside, you can't put your hand over your heart and say it
couldn't move."

Because of remedial work by Transit New Zealand, there was a minimal risk of "imminent loss", he said,
which meant any houses in the slip area would be safe for at least 12 months.

Legally, that was all the commission was required to do.

Mr Murray said Transit was doing a "pretty good job" in stabilising the slip area and they should continue to
monitor the situation.

"It's not something they should walk away from."

Transit's Central Otago area engineer John Jarvis was sick yesterday and could not be contacted for
comment.

  Bar owner angry over flood report - page 11

$75,000 flood excess came as shock to
                        Queenstown woman 

By David Williams

Queenstown: The owner of a flood-affected Queenstown bar and restaurant was shocked recently when her
insurance company said her insurance excess for flooding was to swell from $250 to $75,000.

Mel Knox, who owns Surreal in Rees St, said her insurance policy with QBE Insurance (International) Ltd,
in Christchurch, was due to be renewed earlier this year. However, she could not believe her eyes when she
saw her flood excess was raised to $75,000, more than double the $36,000 cost of damage to her business
from last November's record flood. Her previous excess was only $250.

"I couldn't believe it," she said.

"I guess as soon as they saw Rees St, they slapped $75,000 on there after looking at the flood claim."

She did not take long to change insurance companies, settling on a policy with NZI with an excess of
$12,000.

What she could not understand was that her hospitality business was one of the least affected, with her floor
more than one metre above the level of some other Rees St businesses.

About 8cm of water flowed into Surreal during last year's flood.

Because of the cost of proposed flood-protection work, Ms Knox said the Queenstown-Lakes District
Council should not make hasty decisions.

"However, I'm concerned they may think this won't happen again for another 100 years . . . and they'll wait
that long to do anything."

QBE could not be contacted by the Otago Daily Times last night.

  Business owners' anger grows - page 11

Rich pickings expected by growers 

potential of North Otago for many types of fruit growing, but is focusing mainly on cherry crops for now.

A meeting on Tuesday night in Oamaru set up a North Otago cherry growers' group which will assist
interested growers, produce trees and deal with processing through to marketing.

"I was surprised at the turnout for the meeting. If they can listen to me talking for two and a-half hours and
not go to sleep then we are a long way down the track," Mr Fields said.

A steering committee of 10 has been set up to establish the growers' association.

Apart from the 7000 to 8000 trees for planting this year, Mr Fields planned to grow 150,000 to 160,000 seeds
for root stock and to encourage North Otago nurseries to diversify into producing soft cuttings. He sees the
industry in North Otago as providing much-needed economic development, new jobs and an alternative to
traditional methods of farming.

Mr Fields has been liaising with real estate agents who have clients wanting to shift into North Otago and
buy land suitable for cherry growing.

Encouraged to support businesses 

By Marjorie Cook

Mosgiel people will be encouraged to support local businesses to halt a rash of shop closures.

The Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board agreed last night to add a business support objective to economic
development statements in a draft community plan.

Board member Martin Dillon made the request, saying several shops, including Cagney's Toy Shop and the
former Smiths City building, were empty.

"Everybody is talking about the shops closing in the main street and we should highlight that," he said.

Mr Dillon also wanted the board to include a statement that it would encourage new businesses to the former
Coats Spencer Crafts woollen mill site. The mill closed in April with the loss of 141 jobs.

Cr Syd Brown said the existing statement "to encourage industries with high employment to establish on the
Taieri" covered that situation.

But both outcomes would be achieved if Mosgiel people were encouraged to use Mosgiel businesses, he
said.

Other items agreed by the board last night were:

  Picnic area : Whare Flat resident Nigel Broad's request for a Powder Creek picnic area will be sent to
Dunedin City Council staff to inquire into land ownership issues. Board chairwoman Lorraine Hunter
suggested the board should also promote the idea to the Otago Regional Council.

  Riccarton Rd : A board and council staff working party will consider Mosgiel and Taieri road sealing
priorities and road use statistics after Riccarton Rd resident Beverley Hanrahan and a Ralston Rd residents
group last night asked that sealing proposals in their areas be given higher priority.

Contract and asset manager Peter Morton told the board at the current pace (3km a year) it would take 80
years to seal the 10 roads at the top of the list. 

  Public meeting : A public meeting will be held on June 22 to discuss the Mosgiel main street report,
survey and plans released this week.

Outrage over toilet camera 

Privacy and employment law specialist Paul Roth, of the University of Otago, said the company had probably
breached the Privacy Act.

Mr Roth was unaware of any case law where employers had put cameras in toilet cubicles.

The employer's actions showed a basic mistrust of the entire workforce and it was not a smart way to
address drug-use problems.

It also raised questions about how long the tapes were kept and who had access to them, Mr Roth said.

"It's a pretty humiliating exercise all round," he said.

Schools want children visited in
                          early years 

Auckland: Principals want child-care advisers to make regular home visits for children
from birth until primary school-age, in a bid to tackle childhood problems early.

Principals Federation president Geoff Lovegrove said principals were dealing with social, health and learning
problems in children which should have been identified and addressed before the children turned 5.

He advocated a return to a full service of in-home support, similar to that previously run by Plunket.

"They can see if things are going wrong and can bring help in at a very early stage.

"We are concerned about an increasing number of 5-year-olds coming to school with a lot of difficulties," he
said. Many of the problems were caused by the ignorance of parents with no help.

The suggestion has the support of Plunket andeducationists, but theysay home visits are only part of the
solution.

Mr Lovegrove said many children started classes with health problems, such as hearing impediments, that
were identified and acted on only when they reached school.

Schools also were having to address issues such as basic cleanliness and social skills. Many children had not
attended child-care centres.

The national nursing adviser for Plunket, Angela Baldwin, said home visits were "one of the tools in the
kitbag" for healthy communities but there were not enough resources to consistently help families.

Plunket now made three home visits after a baby was born. Parents could then take their children to clinics,
and staff made visits to some communities.

Prof Anne Smith, director of the Children's Issues Centre at the University of Otago, supported the idea but
said research indicated for home visits to be effective they needed to be frequent and of high quality, which
was "extremely expensive".

Accused did not mention
                     alleged assault 

                       Christchurch: A company manager who drove through a
                       Lyttelton picket line, reportedly after being assaulted by
                       picketers, failed to say anything about the assault when seen
                       by police soon afterwards, the Christchurch District Court was
                       told yesterday.

                       Police claimed Derek Paul Powell (52) ran over and killed protester Christine
                       Clarke, a mother of two from Lyttelton, by deliberately driving through the
                       picket line in retaliation for being called a derogatory name.

                       Powell has denied a charge that his dangerous driving on December 29
                       caused the death of Ms Clarke two days later.

                       At the end of the two-day depositions hearing yesterday, Powell's lawyer, Pip
                       Hall, accepted there was sufficient evidence to justify putting Powell on trial
                       on the charge. 

                       He reserved the defence and called no evidence.

                       Justices of the peace Caroline Kellaway and Dennis Rich remanded Powell
                       on bail to a pre-trial hearing next month.

                       Witnesses told the hearing Powell had had verbal clashes with the picketers
on earlier trips through the port picket line that day.

Ms Clarke was flung on to the bonnet of Powell's four-wheel-drive vehicle, suffered a fatal head injury when
she fell on to the pavement and was then run over by the vehicle as it sped off.

Mr Hall had put to witnesses from the picket line that, just before the incident, Powell had had the post from
a placard shoved into his face and that the picketers had organised to suppress evidence of the attack. 

All the witnesses denied the claims.

The court was told that, after running over Ms Clarke, Powell was followed and attacked near the container
wharf and his vehicle's headlights and tail lights were smashed. 

One of those who witnessed the assault was Ms Clarke's husband, Glen Cameron, who, at that time, was
unaware that she had been run over. He and other witnesses were unable to identify the attackers.

Constable Deric Sevier said that, soon afterwards, he located Powell bleeding beside his damaged vehicle. 

When he asked Powell why he had not stopped after running over a picketer, Powell said he did not know he
had injured anyone.

"He was very quiet and appeared to be shocked. I noted bruising and grazes to the right side of his face and
he had a sore back," the constable said.

Mr Hall: "Did he not tell you he had been attacked at the picket line?"

Const Sevier: "He didn't say that. I'm absolutely sure about that."

Coach driver Gary Genet said he was taking tourists back to their cruise ship and pulled up behind Powell's
vehicle.

The vehicle "appeared to be nudging forward . . . then there was a puff of smoke - I assume it was a diesel -
and the vehicle lurched up on the left side and drove through the picket line", he said.

Sergeant Wayne Jones asked Mr Genet: "Did you see anyone from the picket line attack the occupant of the
four-wheel-drive at any stage?"

He said he had not.

Mr Hall put to Mr Genet that he was talking to his passengers and was not looking at Powell's vehicle the
whole time. "Had there been an altercation, you might have missed it," he added.

Mr Genet replied: "Most definitely."

Riccarton Rd `not viable' 

By Marjorie Cook

A Mosgiel heavy traffic bypass route down Riccarton Rd is not viable, Transit New Zealand says in a
report.

The Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board considered Transit's State Highway 87 draft strategic report last night
alongside a review by Dunedin City Council transportation planner Phil Dowsett.

The bypass route has not been decided but Riccarton Rd residents are strongly opposed to it.

The report was prepared by consultants Montgomery Watson.

There would be no significant savings from maintenance or motor vehicle crash costs due to low traffic
volumes using Riccarton Rd, the report said.

However, the bypass option was worthy of further exploration in view of decreasing road quality on State
Highway 87 through Mosgiel's urban area, it said.

A proposed Allanton industrial estate and increased logging traffic in 10 to 15 years may prompt an
alternative bypass route between Outram and Allanton, the report said.

Mr Dowsett told the board that Transfund, to which Transit must apply for road work funding, would not
fund the bypass. 

Transit was aware of community concerns and was being kept informed by a working party, he said.

He imagined Transit could become involved once the preferred route had been identified.

Mr Dowsett said the Dunedin City Council could provide a bypass without it being a state highway, but it
would be at considerable expense to ratepayers. 

Cr Maurice Prendergast, who is chairman of the bypass working party, said community consultation
meetings were under way.

Also identified in the Transit report on State Highway 87 were:

  47 accident sites (actual and potential) for improvement.

  Areas for more passing lanes or seal widening.

  A strategy to reduce road ice at 10 sites.

  Cycle facilities from Riccarton Rd to Outram. These were given a low priority and put to the end of a
10-year capital works plan.

In brief 

  Date not set for trial

Rotorua: A trial date is yet to be set for the Mangakino policeman facing five charges of sexual violation.

Colin McLean (36) has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and three counts of assaulting three females
in Mangakino, Tokoroa and Taupo between 1994 and 1999.

McLean was stood down from duty in February this year following a police investigation into his alleged
conduct. He was further remanded on bail. - NZPA

  Elderly man for trial

Whangarei: A Northland septuagenarian has been committed for trial on sex charges involving an 82
year-old woman.

The Dargaville man (77), who has interim name suppression, faces charges of attempted rape and attempted
unlawful sexual connection relating to an incident on March 13.

At a depositions hearing in the Dargaville District Court yesterday the man was committed for trial and
remanded on bail to reappear on July 18. - NZPA

  Reparation to widow

Blenheim: A 65 year-old Blenheim motorist who caused the death of a motorcyclist was ordered to pay
fines and reparation totalling $9171 to his victim's widow.

Terence Michael Fieldhouse had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing death.

It was not possible to put a monetary value on a human life, Judge John Walker said, and in fining Fieldhouse,
he had to assess a penalty which reflected the degree of culpability. 

He fined Fieldhouse $1500, reparation of $7671 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months. – NZPA

Casino appeal 

Hamilton: Riverside Casino has appealed against a High Court decision quashing approval for its $50 million
Hamilton project.

Last month, Justice Fisher overturned the licence for the Victoria St casino, ruling Casino Control Authority
member Michael Cox had showed apparent bias when the authority heard the application last year.

The casino is a joint venture between Auckland's Sky City, Hamilton developer Perry Group and the Tainui
iwi.

Riverside chairman and Sky City managing director Evan Davies said Riverside hoped to secure an appeal
hearing in late July and he anticipated a ruling by August.

Hamilton Mayor Russ Rimmington said opponents would find the money to fight the appeal. "It's always
hard. But we are going to represent two-thirds of the community who don't want a casino in Hamilton." –

Submissions wanted on
             property law changes 

Wellington: Parliament's justice and electoral select committee wants public submissions on proposed
changes to law which will give de facto and same-sex couples the same property rights as married couples.

The proposed changes will extend the property law covering married couples to cover de facto relationships,
including same-sex couples, but will not legalise marriage between same-sex couples.

Justice and electoral committee chairman Tim Barnett said the closing date for submissions was Friday, July
7.

The main points of the proposed law, contained in a supplementary order paper for Matrimonial Property
Amendment Bill are. -

  To be covered, a couple must be living in the nature of a marriage for at least three years (or a shorter
period in special circumstances).

  Courts will have the power to order one partner to pay a lump sum compensation of money to the other if
their career has been advantaged because of the division of responsibilities in the relationship (for example,
staying home to raise family).

  If one partner's separate property has increased because of direct or indirect actions of the other partner,
then they will share the increase proportionally in accordance with their contribution to the relationship.

  Where a couple has signed an agreement about the division of property, it will be more difficult to have that
agreement overturned by the courts.

  De facto partners will have the same rights as legal spouses where one partner dies, including the right to
make a claim on the estate of the deceased, and to make a claim where there is no will.

  Courts will have wider discretion to award spousal maintenance, taking into account standard of living of
the partners, future earning capacity, effect of relationship on careers, contribution to relationship, and
responsibility for their children. This change will also apply to de facto couples.

Gore fog disrupts sheep-dog
                                 trials 

Invercargill: Thick fog yesterday morning brought the third day of the Tux South Island
and national sheep dog trial championships to a temporary halt.

The championships are being held on Stoney Creek Station, near Gore.

The fog clung stubbornly to the surrounding hills and shrouded the trial venue throughout the morning, only
clearing about 1.30pm to enable a late start to the programme.

New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association president Hamish Richmond said the fog had put a lot of
pressure on organisers and competitors to complete the heading events by Saturday.

Entries were only slightly down on some previous national championships, Mr Richmond said.

"The distance [having to travel south] may have turned a few away. But in saying thatwe always appreciate
the effort of Southlanders to travel to events in the north."

Mr Richmond described the Stoney Creek venue, home of the Gore Sheep Dog Club, as magnificent.

He qualified for the championships with two heading dogs.

Leader board results from day three were. –

Claims defended, mistakes possible 

Auckland: Former All Black Joe Karam told a High Court hearing in Auckland this week
he stuck by the claims he made in his book on the Bain family murder in Dunedin. 

Mr Karam is being sued for defamation by two men who worked on the police inquiry into the killings, in
which five members of the Bain family were shot dead in their Andersons Bay home in June 1994.

David Bain was convicted of their murders but in his book, David and Goliath , Mr Karam suggested the
convictions came about because of police incompetence.

Former detective sergeant Milton Weir and Detective Sergeant Kevin Anderson are suing Mr Karam and
publishers Reed Publishing (NZ) Ltd for a total of $430,000.

Mr Karam said under cross-examination by Don Mathieson that he believed 30,000 copies of the book were
sold and, although he gave several talks to different organisations, these talks were not to promote sales of
the book.

When he accepted invitations to speak, his thinking was not that it would help book sales. Nor did he always
refer to the book during those addresses, he said.

Mr Karam said he took great care to make sure what was in the book was correct in relation to police
movements around the Bain home after the bodies were found and during the police inquiry. However, he
conceded he might have made "occasional mistakes".

Much of the cross-examination was taken up with questions about the time Bain made a 111 call to police
and a "sinister" 15 minutes that was "missing" before the call was made.

The hearing, before a jury of six men and six women, is scheduled to end tomorrow.

Dog Trial

By Murray Kirkness

Ian "Ginger" Anderson's secret to dog trial success is simple - it is all in the breeding.

Anderson (54), who with his offsiders Clyde and Queen is competing in the 2000 Tux South Island and New
Zealand championships at Gore this week, is a legend in dog trial circles.

The Omarama man first took part in the national titles in 1965. He has not missed one since and along the
way has won two New Zealand championships, nine island titles (both South and North) and represented the
country in six dog trial tests against Australia, four times as team captain.

Apart from hours of hard work and plenty of patience, the reason for Anderson's success lies in the
bloodlines.

"My family's from Scotland and my dogs are too," he explained.

"My grandfather had some border collies sent out from Scotland 100 years ago - 1898 in fact. "We've bred
from them ever since."

His grandfather, John Anderson, was also instrumental in setting up the New Zealand dog trial association.

A keen competitor, John Anderson passed his interest on to his son, who in turn influenced Ginger to take up
the sport.

Now Ginger's son - also John - has taken it up and he too is a New Zealand representative.

Anderson sen says dogs are easy to understand.

"They're just like people," he explains. "Some of them learn faster than others.

"But you need to spend a long time to get a dog to this stage. A couple of years at least.

"The thing is to let the dog tell you how fast it wants to learn. Once they get bored it's time to stop and put
them to work.

"They love to work. It helps them relax. And then you can start again. That's what works for me at least."

A good dog only comes along every so often, he adds. He has one now - Clyde has already won him one
national championship and a South Island title.

So how much is a "good" dog worth?

"Mine are not for sale. A well-trained dog brings $2000 to $3000. A really good dog, one that will win you a
title, can bring five figures. But mine are not for sale."

Apart from the pride of working as a team with his dogs, Anderson's 36-year attendance at the national titles
can be explained by the camaraderie of fellow competitors.

Banks Peninsula farmer Neill Manson, who with two of his sons is trialing eight dogs at the championships,
summed it up most succinctly.

"I've been competing for 30 years and the mateship is incredible," he said.

"I catch up with blokes I only see once every 12 months and it's like it was yesterday.

"There's an awful lot of whisky drunk at times - and a hell of a lot of lies told!"

Blood service, Pharmac rejig 

Wellington: Pharmac, the Government's drug negotiating agency, and the New Zealand
Blood Service will be structured as Crown entities, Health Minister Annette King said
yesterday.

She issued a cabinet paper outlining the final shape of both agencies. They would be structured as Crown
entities and, within the Crown entity model, as statutory corporations, she said in a statement.

"Their functions will remain unchanged and they will continue to be exempt from the Commerce Act."

Pharmac was previously part of the Health Funding Authority, which is being disestablished, and its board
was accountable to the authority.

It was now being set up as a stand-alone entity, Mrs King said.

Pharmac's role in negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies to ensure the Government got good
value for its money was crucial, she said. "Most medicines are too expensive for the average New
Zealander to afford without Government subsidies and it is the level of these subsidies that Pharmac
negotiates."

The Blood Service had an equally important role, deciding how blood and blood services were supplied
nationally to best manage the safe supply of blood and blood products and to protect the gift status of blood.

The Commerce Act exemptions would allow Pharmac and the New Zealand Blood Service to collaborate
with health agencies such as district health boards, Mrs King said.

"While collaboration in commerce can be at the expense of the public, the reverse can be true in the health
sector. This is certainly the case for nationally co-ordinated drug buying and blood provision and safety.
Sector co-operation to produce the best outcome for patients is a key Government objective."

The exemptions could be likened to the exemption covering companies when dealing with their own
subsidiaries, she said.

Mrs King also announced yesterday that the health ownership monitoring responsibilities of the Crown
Company Monitoring Advisory Unit would transfer to the Health Ministry no later than September 1 this
year.

The main advantage would be having integrated performance advice coming from one agency.
Mainland cleared to buy Nelson Milk 

Wellington: The Commerce Commission says it has cleared Dunedin-based Mainland
Products to buy Nelson Milk.

Mainland, the domestic subsidiary of New Zealand's second-largest manufacturing dairy company, Kiwi
Co-op Dairies, has said that after the takeover, Nelson Milk will no longer market the Anchor brand milk of
Kiwi's rival, New Zealand Dairy Group.

Nelson Milk, owned by 17 supplier-shareholders from the Tasman Milk Products farmer co-operative, sells
milk in Nelson, West Coast and Marlborough.

It supplies about 50% of the Nelson region's milk. According to Kiwi's application to the commission,
three-quarters was Anchor brand milk produced under a franchise from NZDG's domestic subsidiary, NZ
Dairy Foods, and a quarter was Sun City milk.

Kiwi's brands supply the other half of the Nelson region.

Commerce Commissioner Cathie Harrison said yesterday the commission was satisfied Mainland would not
gain a dominant position in any market as a result of the takeover.

Kiwi and Nelson Milk have been competing head-on with high-cost forms of delivery through milk vendors
and both were either making minimal profits or losing money, Mainland told the commission in its application.

"This acquisition will resolve the current no-win situation," Mainland beverages manager Geoff Norgate said.
"Mainland expects to have a marginally greater market share and a rationalised service delivery, and to be
competing with Dairy Foods to supply the main retail outlets." –

NZ to provide $200,000 'quake relief 

                        Wellington: The New Zealand Government is to contribute
                        about $200,000 to disaster relief for the victims of the
                        weekend earthquake in Indonesia, which has so far killed more
                        than 100 people.

                        Hundreds were also injured when the earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the
                        Richter scale, struck the Indonesia island of Sumatra and elsewhere on
                        Sunday. Most of the 106 dead have come from Bengkulu town and
                        surrounding areas.

                        There are fears the toll could rise once com-munications are re-established
                        with remote parts of the province, where bad weather and transport woes
                        have hampered rescue efforts.

                        New Zealand Overseas Aid Minister Matt Robson told NZPA the
                        Government expected to donate about $200,000 to the International Red
                        Cross working in Indonesia.

                        "I've asked for details of the scale of the disaster and it's growing. They are
                        just finding more and more bodies. It's quite a growing scale. We have a
                        disaster fund which we will put towards the Red Cross," he said.

The money would go towards immediate assistance - shelter, food and medical help.

The Government would continue to monitor the situation and more funds could be donated. Mr Robson said
he was also considering whether New Zealand earthquake experts should be sent in - to help with the
disaster but also to gather information for New Zealand's own earthquake preparedness.

The International Red Cross yesterday launched a public appeal for $NZ6.6 million to assist the earthquake
victims.

Funds raised would be used to provide 140,000 people with blankets, shelter, household and medical supplies.

New Zealanders wishing to make an automatic $20 donation to the Red Cross appeal could phone 0900
33-200, or post a donation to Freepost Red Cross, PO Box 12-140, Wellington.

`Provocative' comments on NZ
                 influence disputed 

NZPA Staff Correspondent

ACLAIM by two political scientists ( ODT 30.5.00) that New Zealand is
more influential than Australia on the world stage is stretching credibility,
according to the head of the University of Otago political studies department,
Prof Bob Catley. 

The claim was made by Japan-based Prof Ramesh Thakur and University of
New South Wales Associate Prof William Maley in an article in the
Australian Financial Review. 

However, Prof Catley, a former Australian Labor MP, said their argument
was "based on some rather odd social science methodology". 

"But the conclusion is nicely provocative and ends sometimes justify the
means," he wrote in a reply printed by the newspaper. 

Prof Thakur, a former Otago University professor now with the United
Nations University in Tokyo, and Prof Maley had argued that New Zealand's
smaller foreign service meant there was less margin for tolerating errors. 

They also noted that New Zealanders held important international posts like
Commonwealth Secretary-general Don McKinnon and World Trade
Organisation head Mike Moore.

On the other hand, Australians like Malcolm Fraser and Gareth Evans had missed out on similar offices in
the past.

Prof Catley said New Zealand was "a nice little country" with a "very competent diplomatic corps".

"But to say that this leverages it to more influence than Australia - which has five times the population, seven
times the economy and 14 times the military spending and aid budget - is stretching credibility a bit," he said.

"Even if we say that Gareth Evans was not the man Don McKinnon was, and that [New Zealand Foreign
Affairs Minister] Phil Goff shades Alexander Downer, we are still reaching to make a yard."

Prof Catley said Australia had substantial influence in the United States, while Washington no longer took
much notice of Wellington after the fallout over Anzus in the 1980s.

"Since New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark ratted on the F16 deal, this will undoubtedly get even
worse," he said.

"Australia, for example, was extremely important in getting the incoming Clinton Administration to take a
balanced view on the Suharto regime [in Indonesia] rather than just bagging it for its human rights record."

Prof Catley also pointed to Australian influence over Cambodia, East Timor, the China-Taiwan issue, Papua
New Guinea and North Korea.

As well, Australia set up the Cairns group of primary producer nations, an Australian initiative led to the
creation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum and an Australian headed the World
Bank.

Prof Catley, who is writing a book about New Zealand becoming a state of Australia, said Australian
influence even extended across the Tasman.

"Four of the five largest banks are Australian-owned, as is much of the media, quite a lot of the wine industry
and, soon, the stock exchange," he said.

"Australia even won the Rugby World Cup - twice. The All Blacks haven't won since Auckland in 1987.

"Of course, whether all this will make Kiwis want to be a seventh state is another matter."

Graduate exodus now at `crisis
                                point' 

By Health Reporter Simon Hartley 

Hospital health services face cuts if the exodus of medical graduates overseas
is not brought under control, national Resident Doctors Association president
Dr Murray Govan said yesterday.

Last year, a third of 302 graduating doctors went overseas.

"A short-term fix it is needed now," Dr Govan said. "There's no time for
long-term strategies. It's at crisis point.

"Some hospital services will not be able to operate soon," Dr Govan said, when
contacted for comment.

Traditionally, Healthcare Otago does not experience severe junior doctor
shortages like other hospitals.

But nursing shortages have prompted overseas recruitment of mental health
nurses and setting up of a casual nurse database to boost winter staff levels.

Healthcare Otago's human resources manager Baden Ewart said four junior
positions became vacant yesterday but this was expected as part of junior
doctors' career moves.

About 30% of Dunedin's 457 doctors are foreign trained, slightly below the national 33% average of 14 other
centres.

Healthcare Otago has 262 doctors, full-time and part-time, with 25% of the 125 junior doctors foreign
trained.

Health Minister Annette King is due to announce to the Overseas Doctors Association tonight that there will
be funding made available for a retraining scheme.

Sources have said about $10 million will be offered, but Mrs King's office declined to confirm a figure
yesterday.

Dr Govan understood the $10 million would be to retrain foreign doctors who had been in the country since
1995, but had not been practising.

At present, more than a third of New Zealand's 8616 doctors are trained overseas.

"This money could be better used training New Zealand doctors," he said.

Auckland had about 50 junior doctor vacancies and he was concerned southern junior doctors would be
targeted.

Mr Ewart said this was already happening, but the attraction was about specialised career opportunities for
juniors as much as money.

Otago Medical School dean Prof John Campbell said the university had approached the Government with
proposals to counter the exodus by increasing intake numbers.

Large loans were a disincentive for students to return to New Zealand and the issue of maintaining and
planning a long-term health service workforce had to be addressed now, Prof Campbell said.

Dunedin School of Medicine dean Prof Bill Gillespie said individual debts exceeding $100,000 were "speeding
up" the exodus overseas. 

Last month, University of Otago School of Dentistry dean Prof Peter Innes was alarmed that more than
40% of graduates from two years were overseas.

He forecast a "serious workforce distortion" which meant higher dental charges and would impact on lower
wage earners.

Overseas recruiters have also taken their toll on staffing levels.

Advertisements in yesterday's Otago Daily Times , for junior doctors and specialist nurses in Queensland
and England, could offer at least 50% above New Zealand rates.

The Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation has predicted dangerous staffing levels
ahead, while Residential Care New Zealand has said rest-home staff were suffering "burn-out" following
staff shortages.

Supermarket sales impact 

By Jocelyn Stirling

Specialist liquor outlets in the Dunedin area are having to adapt to laws introduced in December lifting
Sunday restrictions on alcohol sales, allowing beer to be sold in supermarkets and lowering the drinking age
to 18.

A nationwide survey shows supermarkets now sell 45% of wine in New Zealand and 20% of beer, a trend
reflected by Dunedin supermarkets.

Clutha Licensing Trust general manager David Kenny said there had been an impact on sales at Liquorland
stores around Dunedin when supermarkets were first permitted to sell wine some years ago. The trust
operates some Liquorland stores under franchise.

It was too early to say what impact beer sales from supermarkets were having, he said.

"We have to adapt and look at additional avenues - Sunday trading and sales to 18-year-olds."

Super Liquor Andersons Bay manager Phil Ellis said supermarket sales since December had affected beer
sales but wine sales were continuing to grow.

Meenan Wines and Spirits manager John Eckhoff said diversification was the key to survival for specialist
liquor outlets.

"Business goes a bit quiet for a while and gives you time to look at other products and then build up a
different customer base."

Mr Eckhoff said supermarkets aimed to shift huge volumes of wine and beer allowing specialist stores to
concentrate on quality products in much smaller quantities.

Caversham Independent Liquor was next door to a supermarket but store assistant Bert Matthews said that
was no problem.

"We work in conjunction with the supermarket - it doesn't sell alcohol and we don't sell what they sell."

Mr Matthews said since December there had been a slight drop in the sale of packaged beer but overall
sales had been up a little.

Trees planted 

By Andrea Jones 

New oaks and maples grace an area of the Dunedin Town Belt after a Dunedin City Council tree-planting
initiative to mark Arbor Day.

About 100 mainly exotic trees bought by the council were planted in the Town Belt at Hawthorne Ave
yesterday morning, council arboricultural asset officer Martin Thompson said.

Almost 20 people took part in the planting, including Dunedin Amenities Society representatives and Otago
Polytechnic arboriculture certificate students.

Although Arbor Day was Monday, yesterday was the day which suited the parties involved, he said.

Department apologises for
               docking allowances 

                        By Blair Mayston

                        The Department of Work and Income has apologised to Otago students for
                        taking money from their student allowance payments without informing them
                        first.

                        Social Services Minister Steve Maharey said yesterday the department's
                        actions were "very annoying" and he intended to seek an explanation today. 

                        Otago University Students' Association advocacy co-ordinator Shaye
                        Chalmers said students who collected the community wage during the
                        summer were overpaid about $150 at the start of the year because of
                        confusion about the start date for the university year.

                        When students received the money in late March, it was as part of a
                        backpayment, so many assumed any overpayment had been taken from that,
                        she said.

                        The department was now recovering that money, but was not always telling
                        students before money was deducted from their allowance payments, she
                        said.

                        "Sometimes they don't know at all until they go to their bank and find that
                        they're short and that Winz has been taking the money."

In other cases, students received a final demand letter from the department's debt collection arm, the first
they had heard of the debt, she said.

Six affected students had approached the association in the past week.

Association president Andrew Campbell said most students to whom he had spoken were happy to repay the
money, but they were not happy at the repayment levels.

Many could not afford to pay it back as a lump sum and even $25 a week, which seemed to be the standard
rate the department was asking on a full allowance, was a lot. 

"It shows Winz doesn't understand students; $25 a week is the power or the groceries."

The department's student services manager, Lorraine Williams, said in a statement: "The department is
aware of some cases where students have not been advised of these overpayments and of the fact that
recovery action will be started by deductions from their ongoing allowance payments."

That was "not acceptable" and the department was reviewing its processes to ensure students were advised
"straight away" about any debts they had incurred and repayment options, she said.

"The department regrets any distress that has resulted for the students affected."

Ms Williams said the $25 deduction level was under review and, if students could not afford it, they should
contact the department to negotiate lower repayments.

Mr Maharey said the department told him of the situation on Tuesday.

"Of course, the taxpayer wants the money to be recovered but students need to be kept fully informed of
that so they can plan their finances," Mr Maharey said.

Kea in flight fronts office for company 

By Mark Hotton 

Natural History New Zealand staff do not
have to look far for a reminder of what they
do.

Photographs of exotic animals and amazing
locations adorn the walls of the Dunedin office
but the largest reminder is obvious as soon as
anyone walks in the main door.

A large kea with spread wings, the film
company's logo, has been carved out of a
block of native matai and mounted on the foyer
wall.

Creative wood craftsman Richard Leckie was
commissioned to create the 6kg piece. It had
been a challenge to create, and Mr Leckie
spent 50 days on it. A chainsaw was used for
the outline and the remainder was done with
chisels and a disc sander. Oak was used for
the legs and Australian jarrah gave the bold
orange colour beneath the wings.

The most challenging part had been the wings, as the wood was delicate and thin, Mr Leckie said.

Recycled matai was used because it was drier and it was difficult to source new wood. 

Bronze lettering would be added to complete the logo.

DCC `pay and display' parking fines could be
                           legally disputed 

                          By Andrea Jones

                          A $40 fine for pay and display machine parks is out of step with meter
                          charges and could be legally challenged, a Dunedin City Council report
                          says.

                          Legal advice sought by the council stated the $40 fee for failing to display
                          a valid coupon for a pay and display parking space "is likely to be
                          regarded unfavourably by the courts".

                          Dunedin firm Caudwells said that was in part because the penalty was
                          different to the scale of fines for parking meter infringements. Rather
                          than a $40 fine, motorists received a $10 initial fine for failing to put
                          money in a parking meter.

                          To provide consistency, the same fines should apply, council
                          transportation planning manager Don Hill said in a report which will be
                          discussed by the committee of the whole on Monday.

                          However, people who had previously paid $40 tickets in pay and display
                          spaces would not get their money back, he said. The new charges would
                          only apply once the council agreed to the change.

                          The issue arose because the council is introducing pay and display
machines in city streets, rather than just in off-street car parks. One machine has been installed in Moray Pl,
and about 50 should be in place by the end of July.

The wider use of the machines raised some questions with respect to the working of the council's bylaw and
the ability for it to be enforced, Mr Hill said.

Having considered the legal advice and discussed the situation with other local authorities, he believed the
best solution was to adopt extra infringements relating to pay and display machines which mirrored the fines
for parking meters.

Caudwells supported the move, he said.

The fines recommended for parking without a valid coupon ranged from $10 for less than 30 minutes, up to
$57 for more than six hours.

Any committee recommendation has still to be approved by the full council, which next meets on June 19.

Board idea on hold 

By Gail Goodger

The proposal for a board to oversee the Dunedin Public Art Gallery is on hold until the city council's new
management team is appointed.

The situation would be reassessed after people were appointed to the five restructured general manager
positions, Mayor Sukhi Turner said when approached yesterday.

Performance picks up 

By Blair Mayston

The Department of Work and Income's performance improved in the past six months, Social Services
Minister Steve Maharey said yesterday. 

Responding to news the department had been deducting money from student allowance payments to recover
an overpayment without their knowledge, Mr Maharey said the behaviour was "annoying" in light of its
recently improved performance. 

The one problem which had stood out in the past six months had been student loan processing, which had
been inherited from the previous government, he said. 

Allowances, which had caused many problems in 1998, had run more smoothly this year. 

Mr Maharey acknowledged the department had come in for criticism in the past six months, but said, "I think
the flak has really come from issues from last year, to be fair to [the department], and to be fair to this
government. 

"We have undertaken an enormous amount of work to screw everything to the deck that caused problems
last year and I think that's worked." 

The Government would continue that work, following its response to the Hunn report, he said. 

The Government was aiming to stop the department making mistakes and wanted it to "have the respect of
the community again". 

He acknowledged that might take some time. 

"Realistically . . . I would hope that the minister would be going into the next election with people saying the
Department of Work and Income is a good organisation."

Coffee company could be coming to town 

By Fiona Hill

One of the world's best-known coffee companies could soon be settling into one of Dunedin's best-known
buildings.

The Otago Daily Times understands Starbucks Coffee International is negotiating with Golden Block
Investments Ltd to occupy part of the former Penroses department store building in George St.

State Insurance has already been reported as moving to the building as well, which would make it fully
tenanted.

Golden Block Investments spokesman Dave McKenzie would yesterday only say the company had "no
unconditional contracts on the premises".

Mr McKenzie is the property manager of the Dunedin City Council, which half owns Golden Block
Investments.

Starbucks is owned in New Zealand by Restaurant Brands Ltd. General manager Greg Paddy was unable to
be contacted for comment yesterday.

Starbucks Coffee began business in Seattle, America, in 1971 and has since spread internationally. It has
eight New Zealand stores in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton.

Big skiing names enter charity
                    endurance race 

Staff Reporter 

New Zealand will host its own ski endurance race, similar to the 24 Hours of Aspen, next month.

Plans were officially revealed yesterday for the inaugural Compaq 50K of Coronet, to take place on July 17
and 18 as part of the Air New Zealand Queenstown Winter Festival.

Eight international teams of two racers each, plus a reserve, will ski in pairs, non-stop, for 16 hours with the
aim of clocking up as many runs as possible on the mountain's M1 downhill course.

The winner will be the team with the most runs or, in the event of a tie, the team with the fastest run.

Several big names have registered for the event, including former World Cup Downhill champion Hannes
Zehentner, of Germany, world champion endurance skier Chris Kent, who is bringing a team from Canada,
and New Zealand's own Geoff Small, the current North American Freeski Champion.

Event director Wayne Cafe, of Queenstown, said when he took the New Zealand team to the 24 Hours Of
Aspen in 1998, the competitors asked when a similar event would be held in this country. "They all wanted to
come down here because they'd heard so much about New Zealand and they'd seen how tough our boys
were."

Money raised from the event will go to Cure Kids, a charity created by the Child Health Research
Foundation to fund research into cures for serious child illnesses.

Sponsors for the race include Air New Zealand and BMW.

The car company will test its latest X5 model in Queenstown.

Mapping may start with Taieri 

By Gail Goodger

A study to identify microclimates so jobs can be created through crop diversification will probably focus first
on the Taieri then on Strath Taieri.

While the Dunedin City Council still has to decide which areas would take precedence, soil scientists had
recommended starting with the most productive, Cr Andrew Noone said. 

The council recently granted $50,000 to the study of soils and climate in the 2000-01 financial year, which
begins on July 1. While $100,000 had been requested, the grant would allow the council to start its part of the
project.

"The bottom line, of course, is realising the economic development potential of the land and, in turn, if you're
intensifying . . . you should be creating more jobs," he said.

The city council's area included about 20,000ha that should be examined more closely for microclimates, with
the bulk in the Taieri and Strath Taieri.

It would cost about $5 to $6 a hectare to map the climate on to the landscape, a total of about $100,000 to
$120,000.

There was little existing information about the Taieri, Strath Taieri, Roseneath-Sawyers Bay, Merton-Cherry
Farm-Waikouaiti-Tumai and Macandrew Bay-Broad Bay.

The least was known about the Strath Taieri but its flat lands probably had "huge potential", Cr Noone said.

While some entrepreneurs were willing to take diversification risks, the studies could help limit risks for
others.

They could also be used for city planning; for example, to locate retirement homes in sunny, frost-free areas.

Study work began when the Otago Regional Council started collating available information for its Grow
Otago project. That includes details of soil types and extremes of rainfall, wind, air temperature and sunshine
hours.

Identifying microclimates is being done by the Otago Growth Co-ordinating Committee - which includes the
regional council - working with district and city councils to investigate soils and climates.

The committee, of which Cr Noone is a member, will also co-ordinate funding applications in the next
financial year. It hopes to attract some Government funding as well.

The initial projects are expected to take about three to five years.

A further stage will involve identifying which crops can be grown in the microclimates. That could be paid
for by people who want to make the most of the microclimates or to minimise risks associated with growing
crops on their properties.

Gore District Court 

An Edendale man who shot his hunting partner was fined $1000 when he appeared before Judge Murrray
Abbott in the Gore District Court yesterday.

Reece Hamish Cameron (20), labourer, of Edendale, admitted a charge of careless use of a firearm causing
bodily injury.

Cameron had gone hunting on a Glenham farm with three friends on May 7 and shot one of his hunting
partners after mistaking him for a goat.

The victim was struck in the arm and back by shotgun pellets.

Counsel Andy Woods said the group had been walking through thick scrub in single file, with Cameron at the
front.

The defendant thought the group was to remain in a line but the victim had moved up to the front.

"He was partially obscured, on all fours, pushing through the scrub." The defendant perceived the victim to
be a goat and fired a shot.

Mr Woods said the degree of carelessness had been at the bottom end of the scale.

Judge Abbott said while a misunderstanding might have occurred in the hunting party, Cameron had still
broken a cardinal rule, by firing a shot at a target without clearly identifying it.

Fining Cameron and ordering court costs of $130, Judge Abbott ordered the shotgun used to be returned to
Cameron's father.

JAIL TERM

A man was jailed for two years for drink-driving, disqualified driving and other offences, when he appeared
in the Gore District Court yesterday.

Justin Edward O'Connor (26), meat worker, admitted driving while disqualified and driving with an excess
breath alcohol level of 1135mcg, both on December 24; intentionally damaging two glass windows on
October 22; attempting to steal petrol on April 13 and driving while disqualified and driving with an excess
breath alcohol level of 797mcg, on March 12.

Judge Abbott said O'Connor had a serious and long-standing alcohol problem, but had been given a chance to
address it in the past.

"The public interest must take precedence over personal interest. In my opinion, a term of imprisonment is
appropriate."

O'Connor was sentenced to two years' jail on the four driving related charges, to be served concurrently. He
was also disqualified indefinitely on the two excess breath alcohol charges and ordered to attend an
assessment centre.

DISORDERLY

Troy Alexander Henderson (22), unemployed, admitted behaving in a disorderly manner at the Mobil Service
Station in Main Street, Gore, on May 28.

He was convicted and sentenced to two months' periodic detention.

Maureen Elizabeth Morris (34), housewife, admitted behaving in a disorderly manner on Wentworth Street
on April 29.

She was convicted and fined $250, court costs $130.

SUSPENDED SENTENCE

Paul John Egan (48) received a suspended jail sentence after he admitted driving while disqualified and
driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 1184mcg, on April 20.

Judge Abbott said Egan had lost control of his car in Pukerau and ended up on a grass verge.

Egan was sentenced to eight months' jail, suspended for 18 months. He was disqualified from driving
indefinitely on the charge of driving with excess breath alcohol.

Judge Abbott also sentenced him to 12 months' supervision on both charges and ordered the confiscation of
Egan's Morris Marina vehicle.

Egan was also given a final warning for driving with excess breath alcohol.

ACC FRAUD

Caroline Joyce Rakete (46), beneficiary, was ordered to come up for sentence in 12 months after she
admitted a charge of ACC fraud on March 16 1998.

ASSAULT

Colin Rodger (47), head rig operator, of Pukerau, admitted assaulting a man on May 4.

He was convicted and fined $500, court costs $130.

DAMAGED WINDOWS

Christopher John Smith (26), herd manager, admitted intentionally damaging two cell windows at the Gore
police station on May 28.

He was convicted and fined $100, court costs $130.

RESISTING ARREST

Daniel Henry Grant (21), unemployed, admitted using offensive words in a public place and resisting arrest,
both on October 9.

He was convicted and sentenced to seven weeks' periodic detention for resisting. He was convicted and
discharged for using offensive words in a public place.

PD BREACH

Justin Robert Hood (19), unemployed, admitted breaching periodic detention on April 14. He was convicted
and sentenced to three months' periodic detention.

Jason Ranui King (24), farm worker, of Brydone-Edendale Highway, admitted breaching periodic detention
on April 8.

He was convicted and sentenced to six weeks' periodic detention.

DRINK-DRIVING

Mark Anthony Kennedy (26), of Mataura Island, driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 596mcg on
May 26, convicted and fined $600, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months.

Fraser Tewao Turipa Agnew (17), dairy hand, of Invercargill, driving with an excess breath alcohol level of
349mcg, convicted and fined $400, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for three months.

Andrew Mark Gutsell (39), meat worker, of Edendale, driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 936mcg
on May 27, convicted and sentenced to three months' periodic detention, disqualified from driving for one
year.

Lindsay Michael Jones (24), mechanic, driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 936mcg on May 27,
convicted and fined $1500, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for nine months.

Colin David Lee (36), foreman, of Edendale, driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 837mcg on May
27, convicted and fined $1000, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for eight months.

DISQUALIFIED DRIVER

Emma Faith Shannon Poole (21), wool handler, admitted driving while disqualified on April 7. She was
convicted and sentenced to four months' periodic detention.

Dunedin District Court 

Charges against two men of cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis for supply were the subject of a
depositions hearing in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Isaac Johnson Curreen (20) and Hayden Alexander Smith (23) are charged with committing the offences
between February 24 and March 29.

The hearing was before justices of the peace Mrs Carol Hendry and Mr Bill Townsend, with Detective Paul
Knox prosecuting.

After the justices found sufficient evidence to commit the defendants for trial on each of the two charges,
both men pleaded guilty to cultivation but not guilty to the allegation of having cannabis for supply. 

The two were then remanded to appear again on July 21.

Curreen's bail conditions require him to live at a specified address, be under curfew from 9pm-7am, and
abstain from alcohol.

Smith is on bail with requirement to live at a specified address.

Owner of bar angry about
                        flood report 

By David Williams

Anger is bubbling among some flood-affected Queenstown businesses, who want the Queenstown-Lakes
District Council to further protect them against Lake Wakatipu.

More than 50 businesses were hit during November's record flood and even now some are still closed or
having internal work done.

The most outspoken is Pog Mahone's Irish Bar owner Ray Carroll, who says his Rees St business may be
finished if there is another flood.

"We do have insurance for the next year . . . but we didn't have any for a few months. Who would insure us
if we had two floods in a year?"

He questioned the expertise of Auckland consultant Peter Riley, who compiled a report released this week
stating a repeat of last year's flood cannot be prevented, and suggested experts from Europe with more
experience in flood work should be employed.

The council's "arrogant" attitude seemed to be that if the cost ran into the millions, then it was too bad, which
he said was "ridiculous".

Mr Carroll suggested the Government pay some of the cost towards flood protection.

"I think if it happens again, I'll take the timber from here, make a boat and float home," the Irishman joked.

Across Rees St in Queenstown Mall, Wilkinsons Pharmacy owner Kim Wilkinson, who is still having repair
work done on his business, said the council should be doing everything possible to protect the business area
from flooding.

He stopped short of saying he thought the council should be doing more.

"We didn't think about moving, but we're hoping that floods of the proportion of last year are an exception."

Mr Wilkinson, whose insurance is due to be renewed next month, had been proactive in raising floors, putting
fittings on wheels so they can be moved quickly and making sure other fittings are easily replaceable.

Other business owners, who did not want to be named, were not happy with consultation by the council,
which one businesswoman described as "inactive".

Council chief executive Duncan Field said last night that if Queenstown businesses wanted to have better
flood protection, they would have to pay for it.

"So a part of it is to make sure it's affordable."

Commerce Queenstown had been invited to an initial meeting about Mr Riley's report, he said, and the public
had been informed through council meetings.

The real issue was that nothing could prevent a flood of a similar level as the 1999 event, he said.

7 July

Front Page News Digest
Quiz Questions for Friday, July 7 
1 Who was the first chancellor of the University of Otago but died before its inauguration in 1871? 
2 Which influential protest singer/songwriter wrote the words: "I can't think for you, you'll have to decide, whether Judas Iscariot had 
God on his side"? 
3 During the civil war in Rwanda in 1995, which were the two warring tribes? 
4 Which New Zealand city has suburbs named Akina, Frimley, Mayfair, St Leonards and Tomoana? 
5 Which Otago sports person won a world championship in bowls in 1988? 
Answers - p2

Power pole impedes view, protesters say 

Powerful image . . . the view from Karitane lookout. 
By Murray Kirkness 
A power pole is "spoiling" the famous vista from Karitane's scenic lookout. 
Dunedin artist Grahame Sydney describes it as "one of the most spectacular views in the nation". 
He also describes the placement of the power line as "vandalism", "stupid" and "thoughtless". 
But Otago Power, which is responsible for the placement of the line, cannot understand the fuss. 
"I don't see what they're whinging about," was Otago Power network manager Terry Jones' response when told about the complaints. 
Mr Jones said the line simply followed the route of the one it replaced and the pole was only a metre or so from the original line. 
"I think what people see is a brand new pole in front of the lookout. When they came before they only saw an old line and perhaps 
didn't realise it. 
"The poles were installed in the 1940s and the lookout was built in the 1990s - the line was there first." 
Karitane resident Jeff Matheson, who lives near the lookout, agreed with Mr Jones that the pole had always been there. 
But Mr Sydney said he was "very angry" about the placement of the line. 
"If there had been a 50m diversion of the line one way or the other it would have avoided this outrageous - I'm tempted to call it 
desecration - but plainly stupid piece of thoughtlessness. 
"This was the perfect opportunity to do justice to that magnificent view without the ugly intrusion of poles and wires. The outrage is 
that they could have made it better and they didn't. 
"[But] someone has planned it, and that someone should be embarrassed." 
Mr Jones said it was unlikely the line would be relocated. 
The line was replaced in March or April this year because the original line was "very old and in a very poor state", he said. 
Dunedin City Council consents team leader Debora Spence said Otago Power applied for a certificate of compliance but was required 
to get resource consent because the proposal was deemed restricted, "probably for visual reasons". 
That was granted on May 8 and was a non-notified process, meaning public submissions were not sought.

Severe frosts through Otago 
Staff Reporters 
While chilly temperatures were the norm around Otago yesterday, Queenstown had its hardest frost in five years. 
Wakatipu weather watcher David Crow said a 9deg frost, accompanied by an air temperature of -4degC, made yesterday the coldest 
day in Queenstown since July 1995. 
Arrowtown, which is consistently colder than Queenstown, had a frost of 12.6deg yesterday morning, while the air temperature 
dropped to -8.5degC. 
The severest frost recorded in Queenstown was 13.4deg in 1953, Mr Crow said. 
Dunedin residents awoke yesterday morning to the severest frost in the city this year. 
According to figures from the Musselburgh pumping station, the city experienced a 6.9deg frost and a high of only 7.8degC. 
Dunedin Airport had an 8.6deg frost, and a morning air temperature down to -7.4degC, the Met Service reported. 
Figures supplied by the Met Service from around the region showed Dunedin had one of the coldest starts to the day. 
Wanaka had a 6.3deg frost, and a minimum air temperature of -3.2degC. Other air temperatures included -8degC at St Bathans, -
5.8degC in Queenstown and -3.3degC at Oamaru Airport. 
In Alexandra, overnight frosts and freezing fog on surrounding hills kept daytime temperatures at zero for most of the day. 
At Butchers Dam and Fruitlands, near Alexandra, the fog lifted about 1pm and blue skies briefly appeared. 
The official ground frost was 8.9deg in Alexandra and the temperature rose to 1degC about 4pm, before slipping back below zero. 
At Lauder, a 6deg frost followed the 10deg frost the previous morning. 
In the Teviot Valley, the temperatures officially dropped to -3degC in Roxburgh. 
Met Service southern forecast manager Hayward Osborn said from Christchurch yesterday further severe frosts were expected in 
Otago this morning. 
A northeasterly flow would build up down the coast about the weekend which would lessen the effect of frost on the coast, but inland 
areas would be still be "very susceptible", he said. 
Few problems in Dunedin, photograph - page 5

Flood wall for resort unlikely to proceed 
By Kerry Williamson 
Queenstown: A multimillion-dollar flood wall proposal for Queenstown Bay was rejected at a heated public meeting yesterday. 
The $2 million to $3 million flood wall seems unlikely to go ahead despite an Otago Regional Council report which found it was 
feasible to build it around the Queenstown Bay foreshore. 
The proposal was almost laughed off the agenda at yesterday's meeting, the first since November's devastating floods. 
"I think we can put a cross against the flood wall idea," Mayor Warren Cooper said after most of those at the meeting voiced their 
opposition to the proposal. 
Queenstown-Lakes councillor Ian Kirkland described the idea as "a silly option" and questioned why it was being considered. 
"What are we going to do? Build a wall around Glenorchy, too? It's unrealistic. We've got to get on to the real problem." 
Otago Regional Council chief executive Graeme Martin said the Sinclair Knight Merz report showed the wall could be built on the 
bay foreshore but would not protect against a major Lake Wakatipu flood. 
The community would have had to decide how to fund the cost of the wall and he suggested central Queenstown retailers would pay 
directly for part of the project. 
However, after much discussion at the meeting, he admitted the proposal was doomed. 
"The impression one gets is a resounding `no'," he said. 
The removal of obstructions in the Kawarau River - including several islands, willow trees and a large knob of rock near Smiths Falls 
- was the most popular mitigation measure among those at yesterday's meeting. 
It seems likely work above Smiths Falls will be carried out, if resource consent can be gained. The removal of willow trees at the 
Kawarau River outlet is also expected to proceed. 
The removal of 10 sills beneath the historic Kawarau Falls Bridge to change the holding capabilities of Lake Wakatipu was far more 
controversial, however, causing heated debate at yesterday's meeting. 
Lowering the sills - expected to cost several hundred thousand dollars - will lower the level of Lake Wakatipu, and could result in 
large mudflats near Frankton Beach. 
The proposal was backed by Mr Cooper but criticised by others. Mr Cooper suggested the Continued on page 3 

Queenstown Bay flood wall unlikely to proceed 
possible mudflats could be transformed into recreation areas, and said the flats were the lesser of two evils. 
"I think we can mitigate problems in the Frankton shallows," he said. 
However, the proposal was again criticised by Cr Kirkland. 
"It's like having a bigger plug in a bath, but still having a small pipe. Until we get rid of these obstructions downstream, we will have a 
problem," he said. 
Consultant Peter Riley, who wrote a report on mitigation measures on the Kawarau River, said the blasting of Smiths Falls and the 
lowering of the sills should go "hand in hand". He said increased flows down the river would not affect areas downstream, particularly 
Alexandra. 
"Whatever happens, the same amount of water will go down the river. But by lowering the sills and blasting Smiths Falls, we reduce 
the flooding effects," he said. 
Other proposals, including a $1.8 billion tunnel through the Humboldt Mountains and a $20 million dam on the Shotover River, were 
also put forward at the meeting, but dismissed. 
"We've got to live in the real world," Mr Cooper said. 
The flood mitigation issue will be discussed by the Queenstown-Lakes District Council soon. 
ORC criticised - page 9

Existing casino objects to `fundamental' differences 


Trevor Garrett 
Changes made to casino plans 
By David Williams 
Queenstown: Soon after Queenstown's Wharf Casino cut staff and gaming table hours, the number of gaming tables planned for the 
resort's second casino has shrunk. 
The Wharf Casino made its cuts - saving about $1 million a year - in May after its patronage was down 220 people a day on 
projections. 
Casino Control Authority chief executive Trevor Garrett said yesterday the body had approved changes to the second casino's 
operating licence, which included reducing the number of gaming tables from 12 to "about seven or nine". 
Queenstown Casinos Ltd's casino in Beach St is due to open at the end of the year. 
Mr Garrett was not sure if gaming machine numbers had been reduced and said employee numbers did not form part of the 
discussions. 
"All we were looking at were the plans for construction. 
"They've certainly changed and, obviously, there's been a reduction in the number of tables, but whether that change would be 
considered substantial or not, I'm not sure." 
The changes have angered Otago Casinos Ltd, which runs the Wharf Casino. It believes there are "fundamental" differences in the 
operation its rival is planning from the proposal Queenstown Casinos Ltd put forward at licensing hearings. 
In a letter from law firm Anderson Lloyd to the Casino Control Authority this week, the company claimed the changes meant its 
rival's casino could not be lawfully operated. 
The letter, dated Wednesday, said Otago Casinos understood capital expenditure on its rival's development would be significantly 
reduced and that would have a direct bearing on the standard of the casino. 
It also claimed employee numbers would be reduced, the casino would be much smaller, there would be six tables instead of the 
proposed 12, there would be no facility for premium players and many of Queenstown Casinos' gaming machines were likely to be 
second-hand. 
Evan Davies, the managing director of Sky City Ltd, a partner in Queenstown Casinos with Skyline Enterprises, said from Auckland 
yesterday it was "absolutely extraordinary" that a company that said it would develop a casino at Millbrook near Arrowtown and 
instead built one at the Steamer Wharf in Queenstown should have any concerns about changes to their plans. 
"It's not competition; that's just silly," he said. 
There had been some changes to space, but he was in no position to comment further. 
Sky City was "quite comfortable" with its investment in Queenstown and there had been no reason for its expectations to change, Mr 
Davies said.

In brief 
Crash on ice 
Ice and a crashed truck forced the closure of Townleys Rd in Dunedin last night. Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell said the offal truck 
went out of control on ice and crashed about 10pm. No-one was injured but the vehicle partially blocked the road. 
CYFS staff sacked 
Wellington: Four Department of Child, Youth and Family Services staff have been sacked for inappropriate use of the Internet, 
including the accessing of pornographic material. CYFS chief executive Jackie Brown said none of the images accessed involved 
children. - NZPA 
Germany's cup 
Zurich: Germany will host the 2006 World Cup soccer finals, Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced last night. 
Germany was chosen ahead of South Africa after the Fifa executive discarded England and Morocco. 
The vote was 12-11 in favour of Germany, with Oceania representative Charlie Dempsey, a New Zealander, abstaining. - Reuters

In brief 
Reforms costly 
Wellington : Hospitals face a $750,000 bill for extra board members needed under the Government's health reforms, according to 
National MP Lynda Scott. 
Health and hospital service boards would need two extra members to help with the transition to district health boards. 
That would cost an extra $756,000 in directors' fees, Dr Scott said. - NZPA 
MP for euthanasia 
Wellington : New Zealand First MP Peter Brown yesterday entered a Bill allowing euthanasia into the Parliamentary members' ballot. 
He said sound legislation embracing voluntary euthanasia was preferable to the euthanasia advice clinics proposed by Australian 
doctor Philip Nitschke. - NZPA 
Banks anger Maori 
Wellington : Maori officials frustrated with banks' attitude towards Maori land development are asking the Government for help. 
Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Ngatata Love said proposals for changes to the way Maori land was considered for development 
finance would go to Cabinet next month. - NZPA 
Labels rejected 
Wellington : Food officials have rejected a request that warning labels be put on alcohol sold in New Zealand and Australia. 
Australian health group the Society Without Alcoholic Trauma wanted all alcoholic beverages to be labelled: "This product contains 
alcohol. Alcohol is a dangerous drug." 
However, the Australia New Zealand Food Authority said there was no proof labels would change the behaviour of at-risk groups. - 
NZPA 
Two die after crash 
Wellington : Two people are dead and one seriously injured after a car and a fully laden logging truck collided on State Highway 29 
near Matamata yesterday morning. 
The driver of the car died at the scene and a rear passenger airlifted to Waikato Hospital in Hamilton died later. The front passenger 
was in serious condition in Waikato Hospital. 
Police have named the New Plymouth man who died at the scene of a collision between a Works Civil Construction truck and his car 
on Wednesday. He was Anthony Stephen Richard Hall (22), also known as Anthony Van Klink . - NZPA 
Pornography Bill 
Wellington : A Bill drawn from the Parliamentary members' ballot yesterday would ban child pornography in films, videos or 
publications, National MP Anne Tolley said yesterday. 
The Films, Videos and Publications Classification (Prohibition of Child Pornography) Amendment Bill would give the chief censor 
the power to disregard the right to freedom of expression when classifying an item objectionable. - NZPA 
Customers switching 
Wellington : More than 10% of New Zealand's electricity consumers have switched retailer since the introduction of electricity retail 
competition, M-co, the company running the electricity market, says. 
There are about 1.7 million electricity consumers in New Zealand and 178,701 customers have switched retailer since April last year. - 
NZPA 

Officials investigate who may own haka trademark 
Wellington: Commerce Minister Paul Swain has confirmed officials are investigating trademarking the haka and other Maori 
intellectual property like the koru, but said any decisions were a long way off. 
Ministry of Economic Development officials told a Parliamentary committee yesterday the Government was finalising a trademarks 
Bill and advice on the haka was being prepared for ministers. 
Mr Swain later said it was likely to be some months before the issue reached the Cabinet. 
The issue flared into prominence last month when it was revealed the Ngati Toa iwi of Wellington had applied to trademark the haka 
performed by the All Blacks. 
Researcher Oriwa Solomon said the tribe owned the haka because it was written by their ancestor Te Rauparaha. 
Mr Solomon lodged the application a year ago but it was turned down by the Intellectual Properties Office. 
The office said the haka was not acceptable for registration because it contained elements of a common waiata, or Maori song. 
Under the trademarks process, Mr Solomon was given time to provide additional information and did so on June 29, signalling he 
would pursue the application. 
Mr Solomon and other Ngati Toa members pushing for the haka to be trademarked, this week presented a submission to the Economic 
Development Ministry's intellectual property office. 
They believe their submission answers the office's concerns about trademarking the haka, whether it distinguishes a product or service, 
and is adequately distinct from other Maori song lyrics. 
If the iwi succeeds in trademarking the haka, it plans to continue allowing the All Blacks to use it, but wants to be consulted on its use 
in what iwi members call "the commercial sphere". 
Mr Swain said the action highlighted the need for a public debate on the issue. 
Equally as important as the haka were other Maori symbols, or intellectual property, like the koru and other "words, phrases and 
images". 
Maori have been upset over Maori art, tattoos and symbols being used by overseas fashion designers without consultation. 
A similar debate was being held over the registration of Internet domain names, Mr Swain said. 
Any changes would be made as amendments to the Trademarks Act but there would be wide consultation first, he said. 

Farmer vows to close road permanently 
Invercargill: The access road from which three Invercargill men plunged to their death would be closed to the public permanently, the 
farmer who owns the road said last night. 
The bodies of Marc Hill, Richard Kelly and Carl Wilson, all 18, were found in their partially submerged car in Oreti River on 
Wednesday morning. 
Police believe the trio travelled down Wilson's Crossing Rd, about 20km northwest of Invercargill, and turned down a dirt access road 
that runs through farmer Bruce Jordan's property to McCallum Beach. 
About 1km along, the road was washed out and it is believed the car plunged down a bank into the river. 
A combined funeral service for the three young men is planned for Saturday at Southland Boys High School hall. 
Mr Jordan said he was becoming frustrated because of police statements about investigations into culpability in relation to use of the 
road, when he had not been contacted by police in that regard. 
"It was on my property - not once have they contacted me," he said. 
Detective Sergeant Tim Haughey could not be contacted for comment last night However, Mr Haughey had said earlier in the day 
police had an obligation to report on the sudden deaths for the coroner's inquest. 
A specialist crash investigation team was looking at circumstances of the accident and the use of the private road. 
Federated Farmers fears a farmer backlash against allowing public access through their properties after questions about culpability for 
accidents were raised. 

Compensation considered 
Wellington: An Auckland man wrongfully jailed for 14 months is likely to shortly be compensated by the Government. 
Justice Minister Phil Goff is to take a paper proposing the compensation to the Cabinet, after NZPA reported in May such action was 
imminent. 
The man, whose name is suppressed, was cleared after serving 14 months in prison for sexual abusing his sons. 
While in opposition, Mr Goff pursued the man's case, in which both his boys had accused him of abuse after spending a year in 
counselling. 
An IHC worker was later jailed for the abuse, which continued while the father was in prison. 
Mr Goff has received a Queen's Counsel report and said his officials were working on a paper to determine the compensation. 
If approved, it was thought to be the first payment since a $1 million payment to Arthur Allan Thomas, wrongly convicted of the 1970 
murders of Harvey and Jeanette Crewe. 
"It's probably the most terrible offence that a parent could be accused of and convicted of, so he had a pretty rough time and he is 
entitled to compensation," Mr Goff said. 
Mr Goff is also waiting on a Queen's Counsel report into the case of David Dougherty, who spent 3 and a-half years in prison for 
abducting and raping an 11-year-old girl. 
A decision on his compensation awaited the results of fresh DNA tests in Australia. 
DNA tests in 1997 cleared the way for a new trial for Mr Dougherty, at which a jury found him not guilty. 
Former justice minister Sir Douglas Graham initially refused Mr Dougherty's case for compensation, saying his innocence had not 
been proved. 
Mr Goff would not say how big the payment under consideration was. 
Compensation would be higher if state agencies were proved to have made a mistake, or had planted evidence to gain a conviction - 
such as happened in the Thomas case. 

Bellamy's bus trip to penguin success 

Dr David Bellamy talks with Victorian botanist David Cameron in the 
bus on the way to Penguin Place. 
By Simon Winter 
Dr David Bellamy travelled down the Otago Peninsula yesterday in a crowded big red bus to view a natural history "success story". 
With him were about 30 children and a similar number of adults, a little bit nervous in the presence of the great botanist. 
They were off to Penguin Place but there were few penguins to be found - most were still playing in the icy waters off Pipikaretu Bay. 
Dr Bellamy, in Dunedin to take part in the International Science Festival, took four days to get to New Zealand and will be here for 
three days. 
But, if he was tired, you would not have known. He was his usual animated self and told Penguin Place guests of the dangers facing 
the world's flora and fauna. 
"One of the great problems is that 200 people in the world own $2 billion. They don't care about the environment. 
"They do whatever they have to do to make money - that's what makes it hard," he said. 
He described himself as an itinerant botanist - "I've turned down over 1400 engagements this year just so I can come to see success 
stories like this. 
"It's just one small victory but we are beginning to see a renaissance. 
"We are finally beginning to win."

Debate on genetic modification 
By Mark Hotton 
There were no hysterics, wailing or gnashing of teeth. 
Instead, last night's panel debate on genetic modification, part of the International Science Festival, was a relatively tame affair. 
The panel featured environmentalist Dr David Bellamy, Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, Parliamentary Committee on the 
Environment officer Rhonda Cooper, anthropologist Dr Hugh Campbell, and research scientists Dr George Petersen and Allan 
Crawford. 
The event was held at the Rialto Theatre after the screening of Gattaca , a science fiction movie which explores the possibility of the 
modification of human genes. 
Each panel member gave a statement on their views on genetic modification, then the panel answered questions from the floor for 
about 45 minutes. 
Despite differing views between the scientists and environmentalists, all agreed more research and testing of modifications to any 
organism would need stringent and controlled testing.

Full teen employment 
Wellington: The Government should aim to have no teenagers on the dole, Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton said yesterday. 
Instead of the dole, everyone under 20 without full-time work could be offered education or vocational training such as an 
apprenticeship, he said. 
"In my view, governments have tolerated youth unemployment for far too long." 
The highest unemployment rates were among 15 to 19-year-olds, with an 18% unemployment rate. 
He told the Canterbury Association of School Executive Officers, eliminating unemployment for under 20s was an "achievable 
vision". 

Bellamy fancies being penguin next time 
By Gail Goodger 
If Dr David Bellamy comes back as a bird in his next life, he wants to be a penguin. 
In this life, the renowned environmentalist would not mind being New Zealand's tourism director: "You'd have a job for life." 
Potentially, the country probably had one of the greatest resources environmentally for tourism in the world, ranging from glaciers and 
volcanoes to flora, fauna and birds. 
The country had also pioneered three "great sports"; bungy jumping, black-water rafting and jet boat trips. 
Tourism was the world's leading industry and eco-tourism was becoming very profitable, he said. 
Dr Bellamy yesterday presented Otago Peninsula's Penguin Place with the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow New Zealand 
Award which it won last year. 
The venture not only showed people the penguins but also highlighted how development could threaten their survival. If the birds 
were not looked after, both Dunedin and the world would be a sadder place, he said. 
Eco-tourism translated to more money being put into conservation and it was only when communities decided "no-one's going to take 
our heritage from us" that conservation succeeded. 
Despite having seen half the world's rainforest destroyed during his 45 years of environmental campaigning, Dr Bellamy still asks 
"Why give up?" 
Many more projects were being launched and "we're going to win". 
Penguin Place partner Scott Clarke said the yellow-eyed penguin reserve started as a hobby for him and Howard McGrouther 14 years 
ago but had developed into a self-sustaining business. 
Along with paying wages for 20 people in the season's height, they could also fund scientific research, a penguin hospital, habitat 
improvements and year-round predator trapping. 
The pair was also starting to develop a forest in the reserve, so visitors could journey from mountain beech to coastal trees, including 
some species not seen in the area for about 120 years. 
When the men started their conservation work, there were only about 30 yellow-eyed penguins on the site. Now, there were more than 
200, he said. 
The modest environmentalist - Saturday feature

Department investigating restaurants 
By Murray Kirkness 
The Department of Labour yesterday confirmed it was investigating two Dunedin restaurants for possible industrial relations breaches. 
Department inspectors will interview management of the two restaurants today. 
The inquiry was instigated after the department received a letter containing a list of allegations concerning the two restaurants. 
"We have made an approach to the businesses and obviously explained to them we had an inquiry over terms of employment and 
conditions," Department of Labour industrial relations spokesman Peter Winchester said yesterday. 
"We are working through some issues . . . to ensure there is compliance with things like holidays and minimum wages. 
"Tomorrow night we will have a clearer view as to any possible breaches." 
Mr Winchester said the department had received "100% co-operation" from the businesses and all records had been made available.

In brief 
More NZ aid to East Timor 
Wellington: New Zealand will open a liaison office in East Timor and boost aid funding, the Government announced yesterday. 
The office, due to open in September, will be staffed by a diplomat who will consolidate links with East Timorese leaders and the UN 
and direct New Zealand's aid effort. 
An allocation of $400,000 a year will be made for up to 10 East Timorese to study at New Zealand universities and funding will be 
provided for developing a pre-school education strategy through home-based community programmes. - NZPA 
Hundreds call Bankline 
Wellington: A free-phone number set up for people to talk about banking services had logged more than 500 calls on its first day, 
Consumer Affairs Minister Phillida Bunkle said yesterday. 
Bankline was set up by the ministry to explain how to resolve complaints about banks and to highlight issues of concern. It will run 
for a month and is staffed from 9am to 5pm. 
The number is 0800 434 443. 
The Consumers Institute web site, www.consumer.org.nz, is also providing comparisons of bank fees, mortgages and credit card 
charges. - NZPA 
Youth to debate marijuana 
Wellington: This year's Youth Parliament will debate whether the personal use of marijuana should be decriminalised. 
The Youth Parliament, an annual event in which young people hold a debate in the House, will take place on August 28 and 29. 
Youth Affairs Minister Laila Harre said the debate would be a chance for the Government to get a clear picture of what young New 
Zealanders thought about moves to change the law. - NZPA 
NZ coach driver sentenced 
Paris: The New Zealand driver of a coach that crashed in Paris, injuring 35 passengers, received a five-month suspended prison 
sentence on Wednesday. 
The Contiki Travel coach driven by Dennis Johnson (28) flipped over as it overtook a lorry in April, 1998. A police spokesman said a 
rear wheel had burst under pressure "of too much speed".

Dunedin District Court 
A man and a woman who wrote messages on hotel toilet walls implying that anyone could ring two complainants "for sex or a great 
time, any time", have said they are sorry. 
There was nothing malicious in their actions. They were drunk and did it as a practical joke, they told police. 
Before the Dunedin District Court yesterday, Karyn Edith Crawford (24), chef, and Ralph Peter Jacobs (41), technician, each admitted 
two charges. 
They were charged jointly with intentionally damaging toilet walls at 10 licensed premises, and using insulting words at the premises 
reckless as to whether anyone was alarmed or insulted, at Dunedin on May 13. 
On each of the charges, both were convicted and each fined $200, court costs $130. 
Prosecutor Detective Chris George said the complainants received phone calls at all hours of the night and day from strangers. 
Spoken to, Crawford and Jacobs said they were acquaintances of the complainants. They wrote the messages as a practical joke when 
drunk. They were sorry and had no malicious intent. 
Reparation was not sought as the messages were able to be washed off or painted over, Det George advised. 
Counsel Melanie Simpson said Crawford had apologised to the complaints, personally and in writing. She was undergoing counselling 
for personal issues. 
Jacobs, representing himself, said it was a practical joke that got out of hand. He was very sorry. It would not happen again. 
Judge Gary MacAskill told the pair: "It should have been apparent there was nothing very funny about your behaviour and that it 
would cause inevitable stress to the complainants". 
LICENSING CHARGE 
A tavern duty manageress charged with allowing an intoxicated man to remain on licensed premises admitted the offence. 
Kim Mihaka (38) faced the charge following a routine police visit to the Kensington Tavern in the early hours of May 11. 
She was convicted and fined $250, court costs $130. 
Det George said police were called to a disturbance outside the tavern at 1am. Once the matter was dealt with, they carried out a 
routine visit at the premises. One of about 15 patrons in the bar was very intoxicated. 
Police brought him to the attention of Mihaka, the duty manageress. The man was leaning against a doorway and staggering. His 
speech was slurred. He smelled strongly of alcohol. 
Mihaka looked at the man and spoke briefly with police about the matter but did not have him leave. 
She told police the man had been there for a few hours. She said she had known him for ages and it was difficult to tell someone who 
drank so much that he could not have another drink. 
Counsel Val Martin asked that Mihaka be discharged without conviction. 
Mihaka had worked in the hospitality industry for 12 years and took her job very seriously. It was she who called the police, Ms 
Martin submitted. 
A conviction would jeopardise a current review of her manager's licence. 
Judge MacAskill declined to discharge Mihaka but took into account the offence was not particularly serious of its type. 
He expressed concern at Mihaka's comments to the police. 
"No matter how difficult, that is exactly your responsibility as a manager," he told her. 
REMAND FOR HEARING 
A Milton man facing a series of assault and firearms charges arising from events in Milton and Balclutha last month has been granted 
bail and remanded for a depositions hearing on August 28. 
Murray James Law (37), saw miller, had earlier been remanded in custody for an urgent psychological report. 
He is charged with sexually violating a woman, assaulting her with a knife, threatening to kill her, assaulting her and unlawfully 
possessing a sawn-off shotgun, all at Milton on June 4. 
Further allegations are of assaulting and threatening to kill the same woman at Balclutha between June 16 and 18 and, between the 
same dates, unlawfully possessing an axe in circumstances showing an intention to use it to commit a crime of violence. 
Bail terms require Law to live at a specified address, be under curfew from 9pm to 7am, report to the police as directed, and comply 
with the conditions of a protection order. He is not to travel south of Waihola and is not to contact the complainant. 
DRINK-DRIVING, ASSAULT 
Jamie Francis Stewart (19), labourer, of Waitati, admitted driving with an excess blood-alcohol level of 105mg, in North Rd on June 
25, and a Crimes Act assault on a male, on June 9. 
Stewart had two previous drink-drive convictions, Det George advised. 
Concerning the assault, he said Stewart was in the New World Centre City car park about 9pm, waiting for his girlfriend. The victim, 
a 14-year-old schoolboy, was buying a drink from a vending machine. After brief words with the victim, Stewart grabbed him by the 
collar, let him go, then chased him on to a bus parked on Cumberland St. He pushed the victim against the metal bar of a seat and 
slapped the back of his head several times. 
His explanation was he lost his temper when the victim abused his girlfriend. 
The victim did not need medical treatment but suffered a small cut beneath his left eye and tenderness to the back of his head. 
Counsel Elizabeth Bulger said Stewart would be receptive to help for alcohol and other issues. 
Stewart was remanded for sentencing on July 28. 
ASSAULTED WOMAN 
Anjani Lata (28), mother, of Palmerston, admitted assaulting a woman using an ashtray as a weapon, at Dunedin on May 6. 
Det George said the incident happened at the Woolshed Bar about 11.30pm when Lata struck the right side of the complainant's head, 
knocking the complainant to the floor and momentarily stunning her. 
Lata denied pushing the complainant over but admitted slapping her once and throwing an ashtray at her. 
The complainant suffered a black eye and a lump above her eye. 
Counsel David More submitted the offence happened when Lata and the man who was now her husband were each having their 
"singles" night before marrying and accidentally met up at the same bar. The complainant had been "the other woman" in the man's 
life. Lata regretted losing her temper. 
Lata was convicted and fined $500, court costs $130. Half of the fine is to be paid to the complainant. 
FOUND IN HOUSE 
Donald Daniel Kiu (37), employed, of North Taieri, was remanded for sentence on July 27 after admitting being found without 
reasonable excuse in a Cochrane St house on May 22, stealing a $40.95 bottle of bourbon from a liquor store, unlawfully having an 
axe, a knife and a pocket knife (one charge), and possessing 2g of cannabis, at Blenheim in March. 
Det George said the complainant in the Dunedin matter was a woman with whom Kiu had been in a relationship. Kiu went to her 
house about 8.30am on May 22 and, receiving no answer at the front door, climbed in through an open window. 
The complainant and her partner were present. There was an altercation among the three, leading to a fight between the complainant's 
partner and Kiu. The fight continued on to the front doorstep and was stopped by police. 
Kiu's explanation was he knew he would be arrested if he went to the address. He had no money so it was his only way of getting to 
court in Blenheim the next day. 
DRIVING CHARGES 
When a Balclutha man stopped his Holden against a concrete island at the Westland St end of the Southern Motorway in the early 
hours of June 29, the front of the vehicle became engulfed in flames, Judge MacAskill was told. 
Daniel Stuart John Weir (21), unemployed, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and with an excesss breath-alcohol level of 
788mcg. 
Det George said sparks were coming from the vehicle's front right wheel, which was running on its rim, as Weir drove along 
Caversham Valley Rd about 1.20am. Travelling on the Green Island motorway at an estimated speed of 80kmh, the vehicle swerved 
across the road before stopping on Westland St. 
Weir admitted having drunk about five jugs of beer. He told police he drove after an argument with his partner and was going to 
Balclutha. 
Asking that Weir be dealt with by periodic detention and that his unpaid fines be remitted, counsel Emily Flynn submitted he had no 
previous convictions for either driving offence. 
The judge agreed. He imposed convictions and four months' periodic detention on the driving matters, with a one-month concurrent 
term in place of $390 in unpaid fines. 
Weir was also disqualified from driving for six months from September 1, when a current three-month suspension ends. 
BANK CARD FRAUD 
Blaine Waaka Stevenson (25), meat renderer, admitted two charges of fraudulently using a Westpac Visa card and the fraudulent use 
of a BNZ Visa card on 10 occasions. 
Neither card was his. 
The offences were committed on December 30 last year and March 18. 
Stevenson used the cards to obtain massage services and goods including alcohol, two car batteries, groceries and cigarettes, to a total 
value of $929.25. 
His explanation was he was going through a bad patch in his life. 
He denied stealing the cards, stating they were given to him. 
Judge MacAskill remanded him for sentence on July 27. 
CHEQUE FRAUD 
Hamish Philip Brown (24), unemployed, admitted fraudulently using five cheques between January 6 and March 16 to obtain 
groceries at New World Alexandra (two charges); goods from the Warehouse, Alexandra; shoes from R&R Sport, Dunedin, and 
groceries from a Dunedin Countdown supermarket. 
The cheques were on his own account. Spoken to about the matter, he told police he wrote them knowing there was insufficient money 
in the account but he needed to buy food and shoes. 
Counsel Stephen O'Driscoll submitted Brown had with him a cheque from his parents to cover reparation. 
Brown was convicted, ordered to pay the $430.32 reparation sought, and placed under six months' supervision, with requirement to 
undergo Community Alcohol and Drug Service counselling. 
SUPERVISION REVIEW 
On review of a sentence of supervision, Amio Filifili (24) was ordered to carry out four months' periodic detention. 
Admissions of breaching supervision and trespassing on McDonald's Family Restaurant were each dealt with by conviction and 
discharge. 
DISORDERLY 
Jabin Stuart Donaldson (24), employed, of Queenstown, admitted behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause violence, in Bath St 
last Saturday, and a related Summary Offences Act assault on Constable Margo Elizabeth Scott acting in the execution of her duty. 
On each of the two charges he was convicted and fined $250, court costs $130. 
CANNABIS 
Charged in connection with the same incident, Aja Irving Gascoigne (21), builder's labourer, also of Queenstown, admitted disorderly 
behaviour likely to cause violence and possessing 155 cannabis seeds. 
For disorderly behaviour he was convicted and fined $250, court costs $130. Possessing cannabis seeds resulted in conviction and a 
$200 fine, court costs $130. 
PD BREACH 
Stacy Anaru Unahi (34) admitted breaching periodic detention in failing to report to the work centre on June 3 and was convicted and 
sentenced to three weeks' periodic detention. 
DAMAGED DOOR 
A domestic incident resulted in Peter Lindsay Monaghan (40), unemployed, being convicted, fined $500, court costs $130, and 
ordered to pay reparation of $65. 
He admitted intentionally damaging a pane of glass in a door, on June 29. 
Det George said the offence happened after Monaghan was escorted from a South Dunedin address having been asked to leave. He 
was extremely intoxicated. 
REFUSED BLOOD TEST 
Blair Neville Garbutt (23), unemployed, refusing to permit the taking of a specimen of his blood, at Dunedin last Friday, convicted 
and fined $800, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for eight months. 
DRINK-DRIVING 
Jeremy David Kavanagh (41), employed, driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of 831mcg, at Waikouaiti on June 25, convicted 
and fined $750, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months. 
Daniel Paul Howie (19), employed, driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of 446mcg, on Maitland St on June 3, convicted and 
fined $400, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months. 
Matthew Peter Edgar (18), student, driving with a breath-alcohol level of 356mcg while under the age of 20, on Princes St last 
Saturday, convicted and fined $300, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for three months.

No animosity: Dame Cheryll 
Although "bombarded with ideas" by curator Peter Entwisle "to the point of harassment", she had enjoyed a good working relationship 
with him, former Dunedin Public Art Gallery director Dame Cheryll Sotheran said yesterday. 
On the fourth day of an Employment Tribunal hearing of Mr Entwisle's personal grievance action, Dame Cheryll said she was aware 
of Mr Entwisle's "unusual perspective" of the world. 
He had always had a very high opinion of himself, his abilities and his position, something which had not always been shared by his 
colleagues, she said, and he often had strongly held, even dogmatic views. 
Mr Entwisle had the capacity to interpret disagreement with his views as being hostility to himself, but, during her time at the 
Museums Business Unit, she never once detected any personal animosity towards him by any senior Dunedin City Council staff or 
anybody in the unit, Dame Cheryll told adjudicator David Miller, of Christchurch. 
Mr Entwisle has accused the current gallery director, Priscilla Pitts, of engineering the restructuring of the unit last year to make him 
redundant because she wanted rid of him. 
But Ms Pitts, who began her evidence on Wednesday and continued under cross-examination yesterday after evidence from Dame 
Cheryll and Auckland Art Gallery director Chris Saines, says there was no agenda against Mr Entwisle. She denies making 
disparaging remarks about him and other employees at social gatherings. 
She said the staff restructuring was seen as the best use of available resources by the unit which was responsible for both the gallery 
and the Otago Settlers Museum. 
Peter Churchman and Malcolm Coulling are representing the DCC and Len Andersen and Rhona Daysh appear for Mr Entwisle. 
Cross-examined by Mr Andersen about whether Mr Entwisle had difficulty accepting his subordinate role, Dame Cheryll said once 
she had made decisions as director, he accepted them. 
And she said her description of Mr Entwisle as having a high opinion of himself and his position was not meant in a critical way. 
There were many people in the art world who were experts in their particular field who could be described in a similar way. 
Mr Entwisle was an easy person to like, intelligent, engaging and funny, and he was one of the most passionate people she had met in 
the art world, Dame Cheryll said. He was passionate about the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and its collection. 
Mr Saines was commissioned by DCC human resources manager Marilyn Daly last December to review the staff restructuring at the 
unit. He concluded there were sound reasons for the proposed restructure. 
While a close personal friend of Ms Pitts, that had not influenced his report, Mr Saines said. From the start, he took the view that, if 
the proposed restructuring described by Ms Pitts was untenable, he would have to recommend it not be implemented. But he had 
reached the view it was, on balance, consistent with sound museum practice. 
Cross examined by Mr Andersen, Mr Saines agreed, given his friendship with Ms Pitts, had he known it was being suggested by Mr 
Entwisle that Ms Pitts created the proposal to get rid of Mr Entwisle, he would not have agreed to take on the task of reviewing the 
proposal. 
Those allegations were not known to him at the time, Mr Saines said. 
Mr Saines also told Mr Andersen that, in a restructuring where two similar positions were being reduced to one, the normal practice 
would be to disestablish both positions, rewrite the job description and hire the most suitable applicant who might or might not be the 
previous incumbent. 
Continuing her evidence under cross examination by Mr Andersen, Ms Pitts agreed she had not inquired of Mr Entwisle what his 
workload was when presenting the proposal for restructuring to staff. But she had a fair idea because of regular reports by him and 
other staff to their supervisor. 
Questioned specifically about critical and disparaging remarks she allegedly made on several separate occasions at social gatherings, 
Ms Pitts said the claims were not true. While agreeing she could have on one occasion described Mr Entwisle as "litigious", she had 
not said she was going to get rid of him. 
Those who said they heard such remarks had either misunderstood or misinterpreted what was said. Asked if the witnesses were lying, 
Ms Pitts said she definitely did not say what was alleged and people were either lying, misremembering or embroidering what they 
had heard. 
The hearing continues today.

Appeal may stall spectrum auction 
Wellington: Only days out from a radio spectrum auction that is expected to reap hundreds of millions of dollars for the Government, 
Maori again stand in its way. 
Ngati Raukawa's Rangiaho Everton, who took the original claim over the third-generation radio spectrum to the Waitangi Tribunal in 
March last year after negotiations with the Government broke down, is seeking leave to go to the Court of Appeal. She is joined by the 
Maori Council. 
Industry sources said that the continual inconvenience to international investors would inevitably deter some from bidding and lower 
the prices paid to the Government for the spectrum, which has been valued variously at between $150 million and $650 million. 
The New Zealand Government refuses to make predictions of what the auction might raise. 
Finance Minister Michael Cullen said in the budget that income from the sale would be put away as a nest-egg or used to repay debt. 
The funds could go towards his proposed superannuation fund, his office says, through the consolidated fund. 
Mrs Everton wants to appeal against a decision by Justice Doogue in the High Court at Wellington this week that he had no grounds to 
injunct Monday's spectrum auction. Justice Doogue said Maori had not established that the frequency spectrum for auction would be 
used to promote their language and culture. 
If they did eventually win their claim that they were entitled to a share of the spectrum under the Treaty of Waitangi, damages would 
compensate for their loss. 
Justice Doogue also rejected an injunction application from Auckland Internet service provider Ihug this week. 
The second-generation spectrum will be used for digital cellphone communications and the third-generation spectrum will be used for 
Internet and multimedia communications. 
The Crown intends to auction 20-year spectrum management rights and individual radio spectrum licences in an Internet-based 
auction starting on Monday and perhaps lasting months.

Australian `botch-up' not heeded, NZ inquiry told 
Gisborne: A cervical screening "botch-up" in Australia should have provided New Zealand with an early warning, according to 
evidence tabled at the Gisborne inquiry. 
A letter written by public health doctor Brian Cox stated that the Cervical Screening Advisory Committee knew of misreporting in 
Australia in June 1994 and discussed the action some laboratories were considering. 
He said the events appeared to be "similar to those that have since occurred in Gisborne". 
Dr Julia Peters, public health specialist and manager of the screening programme, admitted in response to a question from inquiry 
leader Ailsa Duffy QC that the Australian episode should have served as "a wake-up call" for the New Zealand health system. 
The Australian case concerned false negative rates. 
"The committee was informed that some laboratories would be putting riders on their reports stating that there were false negative 
rates of 20%," Dr Cox wrote in his May 3, 1999, letter to Dr Peters. 
The letter also set out some ongoing concerns with the programme, including the lack of a multidisciplinary quality assurance process. 
"Unfortunately, the establishment of such a quality assurance body has been made more difficult by the split in funding between 
personal services and public health services," Dr Cox said. 
"This results in separate accountabilities for different parts of the cervical screening service and fragmented responsibilities contrary to 
the World Health Organisation guidelines for organised cervical screening programmes." 
The lack of monitoring within the national cervical screening programme - which Director-general of Health Karen Poutasi this week 
disputed before Parliament's health select committee - was also outlined in Dr Cox's letter. 
"In 1993, the Cervical Screening Advisory Committee was told that some aspects of evaluation and monitoring which were 
recommended on an annual basis by the advisory committee could not be carried out due to insufficient resources. 
"Monitoring of smear-taking and smear-reading at that time was being left to local programme managers." 
The committee believed it was the Ministry of Health's responsibility to gather information and produce reports. 

Subcontractors may get protection 
Wellington: Protection for building subcontractors left high and dry when big building companies and developers go bust were being 
addressed urgently, Commerce Minister Paul Swain said yesterday. 
Mr Swain said associate minister Laila Harre was working on getting legislation introduced by the end of the year as part of a "suite" 
of measures dealing with the rules surrounding company insolvency. 
The problem with subcontractors was being given priority over the other measures, however. 
A working party has been considering options to protect subcontractors, including abolishing the "pay when paid" approach which has 
seen many hard hit when the big building companies they were contracted to failed. 
The problem has been highlighted in Auckland recently with collapsing building contractors creating a domino effect by failing to pay 
subcontractors, who then cannot pay companies to which they owe money. 
Under the "pay-when-paid" principle, a head contractor is not required to pay subcontractors until he, himself, has been paid by the 
building owner or developer. 
Subcontractors complain some head contractors have used the pay-when-paid clause to mislead them over receiving payment from a 
developer, so they can use the money to repay other creditors first. 
Mr Swain said subcontractors were "at the end of the feeding chain" when it came to getting paid from big building projects. 
Ms Harre was expected to report to the Cabinet by August. 

In brief 
Pleading not guilty 
Christchurch: Former Fortex Group managing director Graeme Thompson will plead not guilty to a charge of managing a business 
in breach of a prohibition order imposed in 1996. 
He did not appear in the Christchurch District Court yesterday but indicated he would defend the charge and was granted a registrar's 
remand to August 3 for a predepositions conference. 
The Companies Office alleges he had a management role in New Zealand Health and Nature Ltd from September 13, 1998, to 
December 30, 1999. - NZPA 
Suppression lifted 
Whangarei: Name suppression has ended for the woman accused of murdering her boyfriend with a Subaru station wagon in a 
Whangarei street last month. 
Julia Moana Waring (24) is charged with the murder of Jason Mark Kino (26) in Raewyn St, Morningside, Whangarei, on June 7. 
Mr Kino died after he was hit by the vehicle allegedly driven by the accused. 
In the Whangarei District Court on Wednesday, Judge Stan Thorburn noted the suppression order had lapsed and he remanded Waring 
in custody for a pre-depositions hearing on July 24. 

Apology to Ti Leaf 
Christchurch: Former Waitaki MP Alec Neill has apologised to the film company suing him and reached a confidential settlement. 
Mr Neill withdrew from the case yesterday, on the fourth day of the civil trial before Justice Panckhurst in the High Court at 
Christchurch. 
Counsel for Ti Leaf Productions Ltd, Julian Miles QC, read the statement by Mr Neill to the court. 
Mr Neill stated: "On 20 March 1996, I made a speech in Parliament when I queried the legitimacy of an overseas film company, Ti 
Leaf Productions Ltd, and its adviser and scriptwriter, Chris Butler. 
"At the time, as a result of what I was told, I believed there was some basis for my concerns. 
"After further inquiries, I now accept that there was no factual basis for those concerns and I accordingly apologise for any damage 
done to the reputation of Ti Leaf Productions Ltd, Mr Butler, and the persons associated with the making of The Lost Prince ." 
Other terms of the settlement are not being disclosed. 
Ti Leaf Productions was suing Mr Neill and Pukaki Downs couple Lester and Robyn Baikie for a total of $1.75 million in losses and 
punitive damages. It is also claiming interest, an injunction, and an order that the defendants publicly retract and apologise. 
After Mr Neill's withdrawal, the case against the Baikies is continuing, although the four-week hearing may have been shortened by 
about a week. 
In court yesterday, the managing director of Kiwi Kontacts, Allan Tibby, gave evidence about a long series of dealings and some 
confrontations with the Baikies concerning Ti Leaf's lease of the Baikies' property at Pukaki Downs. 
Kiwi Kontacts was acting as a liaison and scouting company for Ti Leaf. He told of Mr Baikie threatening him, and saying that he 
suspected Ti Leaf was not a genuine film company. - NZPA

Harassment charges 
Christchurch: A retired Christchurch man has been arrested in Auckland for allegedly harassing an accountant trying to recover a debt. 
Victor Horton-Wilson has been charged with harassing Christchurch accountant Maurice Teague with an intention to make him fear 
for his safety between May 1997 and June 28, this year. 
He also faces charges of harassing Mr Teague's wife and Christchurch lawyers Brian Palliser and Colin James O'Neill between the 
same dates. 
A further charge alleges he harassed Michael Timmings, the lawyer acting for Mr Teague in the debt matter, between October last 
year and June this year. 
Horton-Wilson, a former union official, began a court action against Mr Teague and his companies Clarkville Finance Ltd and 
Clarkville Development Ltd in 1996. 
The action failed last year when the court awarded Mr Teague a judgement of about $345,000. 
After Horton-Wilson failed to pay the debt, Mr Teague moved to force the sale of Horton-Wilson's major asset, a 10.7ha subdivision 
on the banks of Lake Dunstan, near Cromwell. 
The land, in 10 lots, was sold on Saturday for about $310,000 at a public auction. 
Horton-Wilson was arrested at Auckland Airport on the Tuesday before the sale and appeared in the Otahuhu District Court, where he 
was remanded on bail to appear in the Christchurch District Court on June 30. 
He failed to appear and was arrested. This week he was given bail to appear again on July 10. 
In a public notice placed in the Press, Horton-Wilson claims caveats will be placed on some of the titles to the lots sold. - NZPA

Appeal over home lost 
Wellington: A Christchurch couple who used their family home for a cannabis operation have lost the house under laws which prevent 
people gaining from the proceeds of crime. 
The Court of Appeal in Wellington this week dismissed the appeals of Malcolm James Law and Robynne Ellen Law. 
The court said although the property was honestly acquired seven years before the cannabis operation started, for five years it was 
used "in a significant way" for growing, cropping, packaging and selling cannabis. 
The Laws were each convicted of growing cannabis and having the drug for sale between January 1993 and November 1997. Mr Law 
also pleaded guilty to selling cannabis. They were caught again when police searched their house a second time in May 1998. Each 
was convicted of having cannabis for the purpose of sale. Mr Law was sentenced to three and a-half years' jail, and Mrs Law to two 
years' jail. 
After they were both out of prison, the Crown asked for their home to be confiscated. 
It also asked for another property at Woodend, 29km north of Christchurch, to be seized, but later withdrew that request. 
The Court of Appeal said it was not prepared to change the confiscation decision on the grounds of Mrs Law's poor mental health. 
The judges said it might seem harsh, but she had taken part in the offending willingly and, as such, had brought the confiscation on 
herself. -

Swimming, science, sport and more 
By Dinah Dunavan 
Moana Pool has a $1 day this afternoon, so take advantage of this great price and get wet. 
The Children's International Science Festival has another full programme today. 
Adventures with the Bug man , your chance to learn more about all those creepy crawlies, is on at the Festival HQ from 10.30am to 
noon. 
Go along to the Clifford Skegg Gallery between 10am and 6pm to find out more about Computers, Artificial Intelligence, 
Computer Graphics, Robotics and lots more. 
At 7pm in the Glenroy Auditorium, David Bellamy presents Shrinking Our Footprints on an Overcrowded World; a world tour 
of habitat restoration . 
The Youth Arts and Cultural Festival 2000 continues today. 
Today, from 10am to 1pm, a songwriting workshop will be held at Chester Lounge in the Dunedin Centre. 
Body Art , temporary tattoos, will be created at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. 
At 7.30pm, catch the scriptwriting entries on stage at Allen Hall Theatre. 
The Westpac Trust Aquar ium on Otago Peninsula is open all through the holidays from noon to 4.30pm. Daily activities include a 
film on marine mammals, screened from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, a holiday crossword trail and dolphin floor puzzle. Go along at 1pm to 
listen to tales of big sea creatures . 
Discovery World at the museum has Science on the Move , an interactive exhibition about the science in our everyday lives. There 
will be Science Shows at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. 
Discoveries Holiday programme at Discovery World is on today. Create your own star sign with Constellations from 10am to noon. 
From 1pm to 3pm, you can make a fantastic fish mobile. 
Holiday Fun with Beck y , stories and songs, will be on at the Dunedin Library in Moray Pl at 10.30am. 
The Northeast Valley Community Programme has the second session of its mask-making programme from 1pm to 3pm today . 
The Playhouse Repertory Theatre will perform Not Quite The Three Billy Goats Gruff at 11am and 2pm. 
Playbox at the Fortune Theatre is on daily at 11am. 
The Big Chill in Kaikorai Valley is open from 10am to 5pm. 
The Moana Pool has a $1 day today. Lots of fun stuff to play with, and only $1 for each person, from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. 
There will be plenty happening in other parts of Otago, too. Dress as your favourite star and go along for a karaoke morning with the 
Kidzone Holiday Boredom Busters in Alexandra . Rest those weary vocal chords in the afternoon and watch a video . 
"Chatta Box" Christian holiday programme is on at St Enoch's Church Lounge, Centennial Ave, Alexandra from 10am to noon. 
Also in Alexandra is the Ice Inline Sports Complex, which is open today from 10.30am to 4.45pm and 7pm to 9.30pm. 
In Wanaka, there will be a children's session with stories and activities at the Wanaka Library from 10am to 11am today.

Winz using only new numbers 
By Marjorie Cook 
Telephone numbers for the former New Zealand Employment Service will be disconnected next week, more than 18 months after the 
service was absorbed into Work and Income New Zealand. 
Southern Regional Commissioner John Allen said this week the numbers were no longer advertised in telephone directories or 
publications, but 262 calls from Otago and Southland clients were made to old numbers during the year ending June 30. 
New numbers, including 0800 numbers, have been allocated to Winz offices. 
Callers were advised by an answering service to ring the new numbers. 

Age seen as `plus' in workplace - survey 
Wellington: Most older workers find their age a plus in the workplace according to a new survey on "Life After 40". 
The study, done at Victoria University, showed older workers - those over 40 - were more likely to see their age as an advantage rather 
than a disadvantage. 
The survey authors said that finding might seem surprising given the widely held assumption that older workers were less productive. 
"Previous research has provided substantial evidence, however, that age does not equate with lower productivity," the study said. 
"Age generally has little impact on work performance before very late life and age is typically a poor predictor of individual 
performance." 
The most comprehensive reviews of age and job performance had shown no consistent decline in performance with age, and a number 
of compelling overseas case studies counteracted the assumption that older workers were less productive. 
The research report, funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, investigated paid work, retirement intentions 
and superannuation issues in the 40-plus age group. 
Among the findings. - 
Older workers were generally positive about their jobs and did not see their age as a disadvantage in the their current jobs. 
Older workers, however, reported less access to training and more pessimism about their chances of finding another job. 
Despite current downsizing, restructuring and instability, most 40-plusers in paid work trusted their employers, felt valued as 
employees, looked forward to going to work and did not worry much about their jobs. 
A large proportion of older workers intended to take some paid work after retirement. - NZPA

Critic's aim `less than accurate' 

Jim Rolfe 
ACRITICAL review of the army's performance in East Timor by a Wellington defence analyst has received return fire. Analyst Jim 
Rolfe wrote in a Defence Ministry magazine that the army's performance, while creditable, was flawed through lack of training and 
preparedness. 
But some of his comments have raised the eyebrows of soldiers and of a Massey University academic. 
Mr Rolfe was critical of soldiers' inexperience and inadequate training which, he said in Defence Quar terly , was indicated by "a 
spate" of accidental discharges of weapons, and by "worrying" levels of malaria and dengue fever. He also suggested soldiers had 
problems in managing their personal laundry, clothing repairs and extended periods of ration-pack food. 
Land Command in Wellington said the total reported unauthorised discharges were "about 30", and the incidence of malaria and 
dengue fever in East Timor was 16 and 10 respectively. 
Joint Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force in East Timor Brigadier Jerry Mateparae said unauthorised discharge was "an 
issue we recognised, and there was corrective action taken which virtually remedied the thing". 
He said serving in East Timor had forced the army to re-learn a lot of skills. 
"That's because we haven't been deployed overseas for long periods of time, essentially since we came home from Singapore since 
1989." 
Lessons learned from the first troop movement to Timor, which happened at very short notice, had been applied to the training of the 
second group of troops sent, he said. 
Colonel Barry Vryenhoek, commander of 2 Land Force Group which provided the 1st Battalion Group force into East Timor, said 
unauthorised discharges of weapons "virtually stopped" from January, when the daily pressure of long hours demanded of soldiers for 
months was reduced. 
He said the preventive regimes against malaria and dengue fever were "aggressive" with New Zealanders suffering proportionally 
fewer cases compared with other units serving in East Timor. 
"I'm quite surprised at some of the emotive issues addressed without corresponding data in support," he said. 
Warrant Officer First Class Craig Surtees, of 2 Logistics Regiment and the regimental sergeant major for the New Zealand force in 
East Timor, said he was puzzled by Mr Rolfe's comments on rations and on clothing. 
"Until the time I left, there was a variety of ingenious contraptions being used by guys to launder their kit, plus there was a laundry 
facility at Suai they used by rotation every few days," he said. "As for supplementing [ration packs], I couldn't see a Kiwi soldier 
taking food out of the local people's mouths." 
Mr Surtees said some of Mr Rolfe's statements were "less than accurate". 
Joel Hayward, of Massey University's defence studies programme, said the incidence of unauthorised discharges was less than 
anticipated, and no higher than that of the first wave of seasoned British troops into Kosovo last June. All new deployments brought a 
need to re-learn basic skills, even after relatively short periods, he said. 
New Zealand's forces in East Timor - all three arms - had picked up things very quickly and proved flexible and adaptable, Dr 
Hayward said. Mr Rolfe's review had been "interesting and useful" but some of his criticisms were "overstated and possibly a bit 
ungenerous". 

Force yet to reach its potential, says chief 
By Craig Page 
New Zealand's police force is highly talented but has yet to reach its full potential, Police Commissioner Rob Robinson believes. 
Recently appointed commissioner, Mr Robinson was in Dunedin yesterday to meet Southern police district managers. 
In an interview, Mr Robinson said he planned to take a simple approach to his new role. 
"I'll be helping to try and create as well-rounded a police force as possible," he said. 
"We have highly talented police. Unfortunately, they have yet to reach their potential." 
Controversial issues such as the Incis computer system and the police review had required staff to expend a lot of "mental energy", 
which, at times, affected their ability to operate properly. 
The review, in particular, had taken its toll on police and he believed it was a "good call" by the Government to abandon it. 
"It was something that was supposed to be carried out in six months, yet was only partially completed in two years." 
Mr Robinson said he had set himself the challenge of providing an infrastructure to support officers, enabling them to get out and 
conduct "the day-to-day policing of the streets". 
"The operational side of policing is where the heart is. 
"Staff need to get out and think about the way they deal with the public. My message to them is to deal with everyone in the 
community as you would expect your partner, child or parents to be dealt with." 
He did not foresee any significant changes to the police structure in the near future and hoped to create "a stable, but not static" 
organisation. 
"New Zealand police have tried to implement a lot recently with not much success. 
"We certainly won't be standing still. We're prepared to move with the times. We have no room in this organisation for passengers," he 
said.

Merger helps road safety 

Rob Robinson 
By Craig Page 
The 1992 merger of the police and Ministry of Transport was not a waste of time, despite the recent decision to return to dedicated 
highway patrols, according to Police Commissioner Rob Robinson. 
Last month, the Government announced plans to spend $76.5 million over four years on 225 specialist highway patrols throughout the 
country. 
The Southern police district is expected to get 17 traffic officers within the next two years. 
In Dunedin yesterday for his first official visit since being appointed commissioner last month, Mr Robinson said he was "absolutely" 
in favour of a return to highway patrols. 
"The figures speak for themselves. The majority of our serious accidents occur on the highway networks." 
It was important police were visible on the country's highways, to deter speeding and dangerous driving. 
Often police focused on traffic in urban areas, with patrols having to "make a real effort" to get out on the highways. 
Some people have criticised the highway patrol move, saying it is simply turning back the clock eight years to when the country had a 
separate traffic department. 
However, the criticism does not wash with Mr Robinson, who said the 1992 merger was vital, providing traffic officers with the same 
power and training as police. 
During a trip to the Netherlands in 1980, Mr Robinson spent time with the local traffic patrol and saw the benefit of having dedicated 
traffic officers with full police power. 
"It [the merger] was unquestionably the right decision. Traffic officers of the past had limited power and were regularly assaulted. 
"They carried batons and handcuffs, but their training in the use of them was limited." 
The merger had also benefited road safety. In 1992, about 700 people died on the country's roads each year, but that had dropped to 
about 500. 
"There's no doubting that since the merger, a better traffic infrastructure has been developed. We've got speed cameras and improved 
access to high-tech equipment." 
The days of traffic officers being considered the poor relations were also gone. 
Almost three-quarters of existing police staff had joined the police after the 1992 merger and considered traffic a key part of their job, 
he said.

Review report expected to be ready on Monday 
By Marjorie Cook 
A Health Funding Authority independent review of Healthcare Otago's breast screening unit data scare is not likely to start until after 
Healthcare Otago finishes its own. 
Healthcare Otago this week announced there were data errors in three breast screening unit files and initiated a review of 14,000 files. 
The data errors meant some women were not recalled for further tests after abnormalities were found in their mammograms. 
HFA spokesman Kallon Basham said yesterday the six-member review team had not been finalised yesterday as hoped. 
An announcement of team members and a review timetable would "hopefully" be made today, Mr Basham said. 
Healthcare Otago's breast screening unit data review will be completed on Sunday, with results to be provided on Monday. 
Healthcare Otago chief executive Bill Adam said yesterday the review would not be completed today as reported earlier. 
"We always guessed at the end of the week and now we have set the time frame to complete it by Sunday," Dr Adam said. 
By noon yesterday, another 1200 women had called Healthcare Otago's 0800 225 229 hotline to inquire about mammography results 
or other breast screening issues. 
More than 1020 called the hotline on Wednesday. 
By yesterday afternoon, the number of calls was dropping away, Dr Adam said. 
Cancer Society health promotion officer Wyn Barbezat said yesterday the society had received only one inquiry about breast screening 
so far. 
"I think people have rightly contacted the hotline." 
Dr Adam said yesterday the number of files containing data errors remained at 55. 
Twenty women had been further assessed or needed further assessment, 17 women whose files had contained data errors had been 
assured they did not need further assessment, and 18 files or mammograms were still to be assessed. 
The 45/10 ratio of Otago and Southland women affected had not changed. 
Until the review was completed, he would not comment on whether any woman needed further treatment. 
That was not because the newspaper would breach the women's privacy but because the women involved would be easily identifiable 
to their colleagues, friends and families. 
"It is their knowledge, not ours, to give out. That is why we have to be very coy about it," Dr Adam said. 
Ministry of Health director-general Karen Poutasi said in Dunedin yesterday she was monitoring the data scare closely. She was 
receiving daily reports and was confident the reviews would be thorough. 
The ministry would be responsible for the national breast screening and cervical cancer screening programmes in the near future, she 
said. 
Dr Poutasi was visiting Dunedin GPs yesterday to discuss changes to the Health Funding Authority and linking primary and secondary 
care. 
Gisborne hearing - page 31  


GPs rekindle age limit dispute 
By Marjorie Cook 
GPs are rekindling the debate over whether age limits for free breast screening should be extended to women over 64. 
Women between 50 and 64 years are eligible for free breast screening but GPs want older women included. 
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners chairman Dr Ralph Wiles said yesterday stopping screening at 64 was 
inadequate. 
"[It] does not take account of the fact that risk increases with age. 
"Not screening women older than 64 is placing their lives at risk from breast cancer and amounts to running half a screening 
programme," Dr Wiles said. 
College research showed that from 1000 women aged between 55 and 79, 10 to 15 would develop breast cancer over the next five 
years. 
Of women older than 80, between 15 and 20 would develop breast cancer over the same period. 
"In fact, the risk is higher for women older than 64, which is recognised by governments in other countries, such as Australia, where 
women are given free screening until age 74," Dr Wiles said. 
The chairman of a national breast screening programme independent monitoring group, Dr Brian Cox, of Dunedin, said yesterday 
research by a 1995-96 screening policy advisory group concluded women aged 50 to 69 should be screened. 
Dr Cox was not a group member but supported its conclusions in a New Zealand Medical Journal report in April 1998. 
He saw "no real reason for this position to change", he said. 
The advisory group said in the report there was some evidence of screening benefits up to 74 years. 
But fewer women over 70 were likely to take up screening than younger age groups. 
"A major issue with the extension of screening to older ages is that the proportion of women who have other important health 
problems, which may make screening inappropriate for them, will increase with age," the report said. 
As well as recommending an upper age of 69, the group also said free screening should be available to women over 70 if their primary 
care provider recommended it. 
The report noted the 1995 government policy to revisit the upper age limit once the national breast screening programme was "running 
well". 

Group to investigate energy conservation 

Leah McBey 
By Andrea Jones 
Better insulating Dunedin homes to reduce power bills and improve residents' health is the aim of a programme being investigated by 
a local steering group. 
Headed by Dunedin city councillor Leah McBey, the steering group was set up this week following a local seminar organised by the 
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. 
Twenty-seven people attended the seminar, which aimed to attract people interested in the authority's healthy housing pilot project, Cr 
McBey said this week. 
Representatives from social service agencies, community groups, local iwi, the council and energy companies were among those who 
took part. Most were represented on the steering group. 
In the model outlined at the meeting, low-income homeowners were targeted for assistance. The about $1400 cost of insulating 
ceilings and floors, draught-proofing and wrapping the hot water cylinder, was met through grants and other funds. 
Advantages of the scheme included anecdotal evidence that households saved up to $200 a year in electricity, and the symptoms of 
asthma and respiratory problems "spectacularly declined", Cr McBey said. 
Energy efficiency was promoted and the insulation work also created jobs. 
The steering committee, which Cr McBey hoped would meet for the first time this month, was set up to look at the size of project 
Dunedin should begin with, who would be targeted and how the scheme would be funded. Money might be available through areas 
such as the council's electricity consumers fund, and the energy efficiency trust fund. 
The authority believed if a scheme was set up in Dunedin, there would be huge savings for participants, she said. 
Some energy efficiency work had been carried out in the city, but on a smaller scale.

In brief 
Spotlight application 
An application to turn the Hirequip building in Crawford St into a Spotlight retail store is waiting for Transit New Zealand consider its 
position, Dunedin City Council consents planner Deborah Spence said yesterday. 
Spotlight, a fabric and soft furnishings store, plans a $2 million-plus redevelopment of the Hirequip building. It hopes to have the store 
open by the end of the year. 
Concern at approval 
Transit New Zealand is considering its options after the Dunedin City Council decided last week to allow the Powerstore to locate in 
Crawford St. Transit had opposed the store application because of concerns about pedestrian and traffic safety. 
Regional manager Mike O'Cain said this week Transit was disappointed by the decision and was deciding whether to appeal. It has 
two more weeks to make an appeal to the Environment Court. 
Castle trust meets 
More than 40 people attended a meeting of the Cargills Castle Charitable Trust held this week to consider funding ideas. 
Trust chairman Graham Johnston said yesterday two more people were considering being trustees after an appeal at the meeting and 
several funding proposals were put forward. 
The trust has until December to find another $20,000 towards the $180,000 cost of purchasing the 124-year-old Dunedin ruin. In total, 
the trust had to raise $60,000 in 18 months. 
Texan choir to perform 
A youth choir from the United States will give the opening concert of its New Zealand tour in Dunedin this weekend. 
Spirit Wind 2000, the Northwest Texas United Methodist Youth Choir, will perform a free concert at St Paul's Cathedral at 5pm on 
Sunday. 
Accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of the Midland/Odessa symphony, the 100-member will sing a selection of sacred music 
from around the world. 
Flamenco artist to visit 
A leading international flamenco dancer will hold workshops and perform during a visit to Otago this month. 
Maestro Antonio Vargas, who has starred in and choreographed productions such as Carmen and Strictly Ballroom , will hold 
flamenco workshops in Oamaru from July 10 to 12. 
He will then spend 10 days in Dunedin, holding workshops, before finishing with a flamenco performance, Fire in Winter , at the 
Westpac Trust Mayfair Theatre on Sunday, July 23. 
DCC management interviews 
The Dunedin City Council is interviewing a short-list of people for its five new general manager positions. Hopefully, decisions would 
be made in the next two to three weeks, council human resources manager Marilyn Daly said, when approached. 
The positions are: strategy and planning, city marketing and development, information management (delivering an accessible 
organisation), community life (quality of life for the community) and city environment (a safe and healthy city).

Ravensbourne siren heard all over Dunedin 
By Marjorie Cook 
Yesterday morning's frosty weather brought science alive in Dunedin in the form of an echoing fire alarm. 
While Dunedin police were baffled as to why they received reports of civil defence sirens at 10.20am, civil defence staff were able to 
explain the phenomenon. 
Dunedin civil defence and rural fire manager Neil Brown said he believed the calls were sparked by a Ravensbourne Volunteer Fire 
Brigade fire alarm. 
The siren would have been heard over a wide area because of echoes caused by inversion layers in the atmosphere, he said. 
Inversion layers are cold and warm air layers, common in winter. 
The layers could "bounce" sounds and could lead people to think they were hearing more than one siren, Mr Brown said. 
"We no longer have fixed sirens. For a lot of areas, mobile sirens sound a lot different to fire sirens. If it is just one siren, it is unlikely 
it is a major event," Mr Brown said.

New awards 
By Marjorie Cook 
The Dunedin Youth Forum is launching business awards in Dunedin this year. 
Forum youth awards subcommittee chairman Michael Gray said votes for the Best Business 2000 Awards would be collected over 
four weeks from mid-September. 
The awards would be made in 18 categories, plus an overall winner, to businesses that best recognised and supported Dunedin's youth, 
Mr Gray said. 
About 40% of Dunedin's population were aged between 13 and 25. 
Businesses tended to concentrate on student markets and needed to recognise Dunedin's non-student youth as well, he said. 
He hoped Dunedin businesses would support the awards by offering shop window display space and promoting the awards "word of 
mouth".

Puppeteer uses laughter to teach 


Ross Browning with Max the Meteorite and Dig a Dig a Dog entertain at 
the International Science Festival in Dunedin yesterday. 
By Simon Winter 
Australian Puppeteer Ross Browning brought his "Dig a Live Wire Rock Show" to town yesterday as Dunedin's International Science 
Festival continued to pull in the crowds. 
Puppet characters Max the Meteorite, "a rock star from another planet", and Dig a Dig a Dog entertained about 300 young revellers in 
the first of two puppet shows held by Mr Browning yesterday. 
Mr Browning has been practising puppetry for almost 20 years in theatre companies and on television. While he is not a ventriloquist, 
that is the illusion he tries to create. 
"I basically hide behind the puppet and let it talk; they're big enough to hide behind. Often the children ask me how the puppets talk so 
I can't be doing too bad a job." 
His puppet shows are largely science based, promoting educational concepts to children in a memorable, interactive way. 
"Science-based shows for me are really just a recent thing. But it makes sense because puppeteering is a very effective medium for 
enforcing a message. It makes people laugh and relaxes them, and that opens their minds to new ideas and messages." 
Since 1991, Mr Browning has performed over 1200 times throughout Australia with his own company, Puppetease. Although most of 
his puppeteering has been for children, he once performed a show he had written at Parliament House in Australia at a media launch 
for Australia's science festival. 

OUSA vote on cannabis 
Staff Reporter 
A motion supporting the decriminalisation of cannabis will be put to an Otago University Students Association student general 
meeting later this month. 
It reads: "That we, the members of the OUSA, support a change in New Zealand legislation to decriminalise cannabis." 
Executive member Richard Page said the July 26 motion was part of an information campaign the association was starting, which 
would give students the information they needed "to make their own decisions". 
"It is hoped that increased awareness of public opinion surrounding the issue will force the Government to make changes to New 
Zealand's legislation," he said in a statement. 
President Andrew Campbell said cannabis law reform was a major issue and it was important the association held a view on it.

Cold start no worry 

Arctic would probably best describe the 
conditions for a Tranz Rail rescue helicopter 
training exercise as paramedic Doug Flett and 
patient trainee pilot Paul Williams brave a 
temperature of -7.4degC and speeds of 110kmh 
near Waipori yesterday morning. The lifting fog 
revealed a white hoar frost on the willows. 
Staff Reporters 
A 6.9deg frost in Dunedin yesterday caused few problems. 
St John Ambulance received only one weather-related call yesterday. A car crashed into a power pole in Abbotsford Rd. The driver hit 
the windscreen and cut his head. 
It was "highly likely" the cold weather had led to some of the five water main breaks which occurred around the city in the 24 hours to 
4.15pm yesterday, Dunedin City Council water manager Nigel Harwood said when contacted. 
This compared with 27 water main breaks last month and nine in May. 
Although the Otago Daily Times had received some reports of an apparent lack of gritting on some roads, the council said gritting was 
carried out on roads which were required to be done. 
Contractor Works Infrastructure was inspecting roads from 3.45am yesterday, council contract and asset manager Peter Morton said 
when contacted. Two grit trucks were on the road at 4am, and a third at 4.30am, spreading an estimated 60-80 tonnes of grit around 
the city. 
Although it was the most severe frost this year, and was widespread, more significant frosts had occurred in previous winters, he said. 
The priorities for gritting were arterial and collector roads, and bus routes. He reminded motorists that not all city roads were gritted, 
as that would be "completely impractical", and they had to drive to the conditions. 
The contractor was required to inspect and grit roads by about 7.30am. 
If dangerous conditions occurred outside the requirements, the contractor would respond to police requests.

Trust fellowship granted 
Dunedin woman Jillian McDonald will be one of 22 people to receive a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust fellow award from 
Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys at a ceremony in Wellington today. 
Ms McDonald was granted the fellowship to visit mentoring programmes for children in the United States to view their operating 
standards and procedures. 
She will also research the difference mentoring makes with a view to establishing similar programmes in New Zealand. 
The trust, administered by the Department of Internal Affairs, has helped about 600 New Zealanders undertake research overseas since 
it was set up in 1965. The value of the awards ranges from between $2000 to $9000. 

Thefts from vehicles prompt warning 
Staff Reporters 
Property was stolen from a van at Aramoana this week, prompting a warning from police not to leave valuables in vehicles. 
Three day-packs and wallets were taken from the Hiace van, which was in a car park near the Spit between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on 
Wednesday. 
Constable Warren Robinson, of Port Chalmers, said thieves, in the past, had hidden at such spots during the holidays to watch people 
hiding property in their vehicles so they could steal it. 
Cash was also stolen from wallets in a vehicle at the other end of the beach, in the Parry St car park, on Tuesday. 
Police are concerned about a recent spate of crime in Tainui. 
Detective Trevor Thompson, of South Dunedin, said three cars and a trailer had been stolen, a local store burgled and three small fires 
lit in bushes and a garage. 
The incidents occurred in Cavell St, Crest St and Tainui Rd. 
Det Thompson said it was difficult to say if the incidents were linked, although the fires probably were. Anyone with information 
about the incidents should contact police.

Police seek witnesses 
By Marjorie Cook 
Police in Dunedin are appealing for two hunters who saw a stolen car being dumped on Double Hill Rd, Silverpeaks Forest at 12.30am 
on Sunday to come forward. 
Detective Sergeant Warren Spence said yesterday a hunter in bush 15km from the Waitati end of Double Hill Rd told police he had 
just seen a gold Honda Prelude go off the road and he believed two people had dumped it and driven off in another vehicle. 
The caller said he was hunting with a mate and gave a cellphone number, but police have not been able to contact him since. 
Det Sgt Spence said the case was unusual and he did not suspect the owner was involved in the dumping. The car was taken from 
Elgin Rd in Mornington on Saturday night. Police found it on Sunday, 21m from the road, with a rock on the accelerator. A stereo and 
speakers had been stolen and the rear window was smashed in. The car had been airborne and had cleared about 4.6m of bush. 
"Obviously, it was quite spectacular when [it was] launched off the road," Det Sgt Spence said.

Civic centre naming upsetting some of town's older citizens 
By Dave Smith 
Naming Wanaka's $3 million civic centre the Lake Wanaka Centre has drawn flak from some of the town's older citizens. 
At yesterday's Wanaka Community Board meeting, Neil Studholme said he was opposed to the name as it was a "leg in" to change the 
name of the town in the future. 
Speaking during a public forum, Mr Studholme said as a 70-year resident he had already seen the original town name Pembroke 
buried and did not want to see another name buried. 
Board member Jude Battson later explained there had been a public process in branding the town as Lake Wanaka and there had never 
been any discussion on changing the name. 
Failing street lighting in the Meadowstone subdivision in Wanaka prompted board member Neville Harris to suggest reflective street 
signs. He said the low lighting installed by the subdivision developer was proving costly for the Queenstown-Lakes District Council to 
replace and reflective street signs would make identifying streets at night a cheaper alternative. 
Despite a move by the council's works committee to stop an increase in the Wanaka transfer station opening hours, the facility will be 
opened for longer hours. Last month, the board resolved to have the station open longer, which would add $5000 to the annual budget. 
The proposal was eventually approved in the council's annual plan and will open seven days between 11.30am and 3.30pm. 
The public opening hours of council contractors Civic Corp's Wanaka office came under fire yesterday. The company has cut back its 
public hours to between 10am and 3pm. The board agreed any complaints about the hours should be directed to Queenstown-Lakes 
District Council chief executive Duncan Field. 
The board will investigate options to better highlight the two new speed humps installed in Helwick St as part of the $257,000 town 
centre upgrade. Mr Harris said the humps were virtually impossible to see at certain times of the day.

Request to put Lawrence on maps 
By Dianne King 
Alexandra: There would be considerable benefit in having Lawrence added to route maps promoting Central Otago, Tourism Central 
Otago chairwoman Edna McAtamney said yesterday. 
Her comments followed a report to yesterday's committee meeting referring to recent discussions between the Clutha District Council 
economic development co-ordinator Richard Milne, Mrs McAtamney and Tourism Central Otago manager Martin McPherson. 
The meeting heard Lawrence is featured in the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trail brochure. 
However, there could be more marketing and promotion of the trail, which is a direct link between Dunedin and Queenstown, passing 
through Lawrence and into Central Otago. 
Working with Tourism Dunedin to include Central Otago on day-trip brochures for cruise-liner passengers was another way of 
promoting the Dunedin-Lawrence-Central Otago link, Mrs McAtamney said. 
Cromwell has its own stand at the Christchurch A and P show in November each year and yesterday the committee decided an 
opportunity for a Tourism Central Otago stand would be confirmed, if promotion groups in the other towns agreed. The site costs 
$550, but each promotion group would need to provide financial assistance of about the equivalent amount.

ORC criticised for `ignoring' delta issue 
By Kerry Williamson 
The Otago Regional Council was strongly criticised at a public meeting yesterday for failing to solve problems at the Kawarau-
Shotover River delta, a major contributor to November's Queenstown flood. 
The delta, near Frankton, has been recognised as one of the major factors causing flooding in the Queenstown area, holding up and in 
some cases reversing the flow of the Kawarau River. 
During November's floods, the Shotover River flowed back into Lake Wakatipu, adding to the problems in the lake. Silt and gravel 
from the Shotover gathers at the confluence, creating natural dams. 
Several studies have been conducted on the issue but little work has been done in recent years. 
While many support flood mitigation measures at the delta, it is not yet an option seriously considered by either the Otago Regional 
Council or the Queenstown-Lakes District Council. 
The issue was hotly debated at a public meeting in Queenstown yesterday, and left many people frustrated afterwards. 
One person claimed the meeting had been a waste of time and said the regional council was ignoring the delta issue. 
Former councillor Hudson Turnbull described the delta as a huge piece of blotting paper and said it was the crux of Queenstown's 
flooding problems. 
"There are some real questions about the delta and there are a number of things at the confluence that we need to study. We need to 
know what's going on there," he said. 
Tommy Thompson, of Glenorchy, asked why the regional council had not done any work at the delta. 
Queenstown resident Hec Boyd urged the regional council to solve the gravel problem. 
Cr Ian Kirkland said the delta was critical to solving Queenstown's flood problems and criticised the regional council for thinking 
negatively on the issue. 
"We need positive reports about doing something rather than nothing," he told regional council chief executive Graeme Martin. 
Mr Martin said the council had carried out several studies into the delta and had not identified any solutions for the confluence. 
He said the council was prepared to look again at the delta if new evidence showed the problem could be solved. 
"If there are new strategies, or suggestions that previous studies are wrong, then we will commission new work," he said. 
Mayor Warren Cooper said a lot of money could be spent on the delta with possibly no return. 
"We haven't got a big bucket of gold that we can dip into. I personally am not enthusiastic about going on a hugely expensive 
treadmill in regards to the delta."

Injuries many but minor 
By Kerry Williamson 
St John Wakatipu staff were yesterday stretched attending to skifield injuries, with nine people needing ambulance or rescue 
helicopter assistance. 
Two men aged 18 and 19 were flown by Lakes Air Rescue Trust helicopter to Dunedin Hospital with minor back injuries after 
incidents at the Coronet Peak and Cardrona skifields. 
A 3-year-old boy was flown to Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown after losing control of his toboggan and banging his head. 
Four others suffered broken wrists, an injury that has dogged snowboarders on Southern Lakes skifields this winter, and two people 
suffered minor leg injuries. 
St John district manager Kelvin Perriman described the day as "very busy" but said none of the injuries was serious. 
He said injuries on the skifields were to be expected, with thousands of skiers and snowboarders enjoying the start of the school 
holidays. 
"There are a lot of people on the slopes and it would definitely be unfair to say it's dangerous," he said.

Womad wiped 
Auckland's Womad Festival will not be going ahead next year. 
The world music extravaganza, which this year was staged in venues surrounding Aotea Square, had been cancelled because of 
insufficient funding, 

Million Britons view NZ-made classic 
Wellington: The story of Ivanhoe, told in one of New Zealand's biggest television productions and filmed entirely around Wellington, 
began screening in Britain last week to a big prime-time audience. 
The series is due to begin on New Zealand television on Saturday, but complaints are already being made about the 10.30pm time for 
a programme expected to be popular with young people. 
The production, a joint venture between Palana, a company owned by former Avalon television studios general manager Phil 
Wallbank, and British company Dark Knight Productions, is notable for its computer wizardry, said to be on a par with that of Lord of 
the Rings . 
More than a million Britons tuned into the first episode of 13 in the first series of Dark Knight , on Channel 5, a figure about 100,000 
greater than for the programme it replaced, Robin Hood . 
Speaking from Australia, Mr Wallbank said the British response was "fantastic", especially as it was a summer broadcast there. 
Dark Knight head Terry Marcel sent a telegram to staff from Britain, saying British reaction had been great - "We've done the million 
viewers, congratulations." 
Mr Wallbank said the show, which stars Ben Pullen as Ivanhoe and Charlotte Comer as his love interest, Rebecca, should attract a big 
New Zealand audience, despite the late showing time. 
A Television New Zealand spokesman said the late slot was the only available one in a busy year. -

Reminiscences aplenty at sale 

Evan Robertson (left) and Owen Godsall discuss the state of farming at 
Monday's Waiareka stock sale. 
By Sally Rae 
Owen Godsall and Evan Robertson have seen a few changes at the Waiareka stock sale in Oamaru. 
A retired butcher, Mr Godsall admitted he had attended the sale for "a wee few" years. Mr Robertson, who gives his age as "over 70", 
still farms at Maheno, south of Oamaru. 
Both men reckoned they had each been going to the sale for more than 50 years. 
On Monday, Mr Godsall was present "just to be nosy", while Mr Robertson was selling a few lambs. 
Mr Robertson and Mr Godsall could remember the days when there were no stock trucks and stock were driven to and from the 
saleyards. 
Stock going any distance were driven to Deborah and loaded on to a railway truck. 
Sheep and cattle for butchers were driven down Reed St, on to Thames Highway and out to the abattoir. 
Mr Robertson recalled the arrival of trucks in the mid 1930s. He remembered Maheno Transport carting stock for free to encourage 
farmers to start using trucks. 
The number of firms selling stock at the saleyards had plummeted over the years. At one stage, there were about seven firms. Today, 
there are three. 
Both men had also seen a lot of changes among the stock agents and auctioneers. 
There were some "fair entertainers" among the auctioneers and Reid Farmers current auctioneer Dave Webster was "one of those 
characters", Mr Robertson said. 
Both agreed that the major improvement had been the cattle selling pavilion, "It's better than it used to be," Mr Robertson said. 
Cattle weighing scales were also well received, "Now, you know what you're getting," Mr Godsall said. 
Mr Godsall believed the North Otago farming community would be lost without the facility. 
Sales are also a good social outing. 
"Sometimes, you just call in here if you want to see someone, because you know they'll be here," Mr Robertson said.

Check calf food quality 
By Kevin Kearney BVSc
 
Oamaru Veterinary Services 
The calf rearing season is now only four or five weeks away. 
Several industry-related changes mean that the available calf milk replacers, apart from being in short supply, may in some cases be 
substantially different in composition to the 1999 season. 
It expected that New Zealand-based milk powders will be able to supply about 65% of the milk powder demand for calf rearing, that 
is, there is a 30 to 35% predicted shortfall of New Zealand-based milk powders. 
There are several reasons for this. - 
Improvements in powder processing technology mean less stock feed grade powder is produced in the first place. 
Export-friendly New Zealand dollars and demand from overseas has prompted the New Zealand Dairy Group to purchase more lower 
grade milk powder for export. 
The firming of the beef schedule and good predicted beef schedule will see an increased number of bobby calves reared (Ag Research 
Poukawa figures suggest 20,000 to 25,000 more calves will be reared this year nationally than in 1999). 
The group is now buying colostrum from dairy farmers, from the first five milkings. While the schedule price for colostrum will 
depend on colostrum strength, the average and realistic price will be 80c to 110c per litre. Dairy farmers would normally feed this 
colostrum to their own calves and will now either use milk out of the vat or calf milk replacers. 
The price of New Zealand-based milk powder has risen 25 to 30% on 1999 prices. 
This is attributed to. - 
A substantial increase in purchase price of the raw material for milk powder production. 
The increase in milk payout to dairy farmers also contributes to increase the retail price of milk powder. 
With the predicted shortage of New Zealand-based milk powders, farmers should be very careful when purchasing their annual calf 
milk replacer. 
Non-milk protein based calf replacers, such as soy bean, often do not form a curd in the calf's stomach. The curd (effective clot 
formation) provides a more stable delivery of nutrients to the calf and prevents nutritionally mediated diarrhoea occurring as a result 
of flooding the small intestine with undigested milk. 
Effective clot formation is especially important with less frequent feeding requirements. 
Soya proteins cannot be well utilised by the calf until three to four weeks of age when the stomach can secrete sufficient pepsin-HCl 
to digest non-milk protein. 
Calf milk replacers should. - 
Have zero fibre (0.1%). 
Be based on milk protein (avoid soy, canola and fish proteins). 
Have zero starch. 
Protein levels at 26 to 28% protein. 
Fat content of 20%. 
Should include antioxidants. 
Farmers should establish contents of their replacer, not by brand name, but by content specifications. 
Most importantly, read the label and, if necessary, seek independent, unbiased advice from your veterinarian. 
Be wary of any cheaper or "bargain" milk-based powders available. Besides checking content specifications, check how old the milk 
powder is. Powdered milk proteins denature with sunlight and time. 
Check with your retailer that regular batch testing is carried out in the calf milk replacer by the manufacturer. 
For successful calf rearing you need consistency of nutritional content in your calf milk replacer throughout calf rearing. Changing 
from one replacer to another during rearing will increase the chance of promoting the development of nutritional diarrhoea.

Farmer loves a challenge 

Wendy Campbell caught up with Poll Dorset breed committee member 
Andrew Brown at the Waiareka stock sale on Monday. 
By Sally Rae 
"If you're too cautious, you'll never do anything." 
That is the motto of Dunedin farmer Wendy Campbell. 
Mrs Campbell farms about 526ha at Abbotsford and established a Poll Dorset stud, Arngibbon, two and a-half years ago. 
She gave up her job teaching English at Logan Park High School to concentrate on running the farm. 
Husband John, who is dean of the University of Otago faculty of medicine in Dunedin, helps out at weekends. Fencing contractors and 
shearers provide the only other help. 
Brought up on a farm at Hangaroa, southwest of Gisborne, Mrs Campbell was educated by correspondence and was very involved in 
the family farm. It was tough pumice and manuka country, she recalled. 
The Campbells bought the Abbotsford property 10 years ago. 
Before she established the Poll Dorset stud, Mrs Campbell wanted to prove herself as a commercial farmer. 
As well as about 200 Poll Dorset ewes, Mrs Campbell also runs 1600 Romney ewes and about 80 cows. 
Her aim is to finish 2000 lambs and 100 cattle each year. As the farm is not really a finishing property, that was quite a tall order. 
But Wendy Campbell is a determined woman: "You make it happen." 
She is looking to buy a second farm, partly to finish the animals she breeds and also as a trading operation. 
"I think I must be one for a challenge," she mused. 
Mrs Campbell is very enthusiastic about the Poll Dorset breed. 
"They weigh like lead, mature quickly and are easy to finish on tough country." 
They were ideal for Mrs Campbell, who aims to breed well-muscled, fast-growing sheep. 
As a cross-breeding prospect with Romneys, there was a high twinning rate and hoggets were very capable of feeding their lambs, she 
said. 
Mrs Campbell thinks farmers should head towards getting twins away at weaning, meaning less work and lower costs. 
"The Poll Dorset, with its milking ability and maternal capability, is going to fit in with that," she said.

Aucklander at home in the country 

Barry Shepherd at home on his Five Forks property. 
By Sally Rae 
When Barry Shepherd bought an 800ha property at Five Forks in North Otago eight years ago, he had no idea what a hogget was. 
Originally from South Auckland, Mr Shepherd (47) worked as a fitter and welder on the hydro-electric project at Twizel and later the 
Clyde dam. 
He had always had a hankering to be a farmer despite the fact he had no farming knowledge. 
His sole farming experience was spending primary school holidays at a relation's sheep farm in Taranaki. 
"All I could remember was sheep stood on your feet and it hurt through your gumboots," he recalled. 
After regularly working 110-hour weeks on the hydro-electric projects, Mr Shepherd had enough money to buy Molehill Downs, 
despite his accountant lecturing him about there being no money in farming. 
Mr Shepherd is honest about his lack of knowledge when he moved to Five Forks. 
The only thing he knew about a hogget was that if it was served up for dinner, it tasted better than mutton. 
Mr Shepherd had never had a working dog. But he had watched A Dog Show on television. 
"It still didn't help. Shifting stock is something farmers take for granted." 
He did not know how to tie a knot in wire and, while he had driven bulldozers occasionally, he had never driven a tractor. 
But Mr Shepherd figured he could learn. 
"There's a power of information available to farmers. When you don't know anything you take advantage of it." 
He sought advice from neighbours and friends, joined discussion groups and soaked up information like a sponge. 
When he took over the property, it was carrying halfbred sheep. He changed to Perendales and also runs cattle and deer. 
In April, Mr Shepherd won the North Otago A and P Association's ewe hogget competition. It was the first time Perendales had won. 
"I was speechless. It was probably the biggest thrill of my farming career," he said. 
He has bred his own hoggets since 1994 and bought his rams from David and Robyn Ruddenklau's Newhaven stud at Five Forks. 
"They're good for the country. They come from down the road so you can't be too far wrong. 
"Perendales suit me; they've got a bit of intelligence. They're an easy-care sheep." 
This year, Mr Shepherd topped the Waiareka calf sale, where his stock fetched $545. 
It has not been easy and there have been "up and down" years. 
He cultivated a lot of the land and that, combined with plenty of fertiliser, was the main reason for increased production. 
He got through the dry periods with the help of information gained from other people's experiences. 
Mr Shepherd is chairman of the Kia Ora-Five Forks branch of Federated Farmers and is also involved in a discussion group at 
Waihaorunga. 
He is keen for a local discussion group to be set up and a combined meeting was held last month with the Waihaorunga group. 
"There wouldn't be a time you would go to those meetings and not learn something," he said. 
There were good farmers in the Five Forks area and they were willing to share their knowledge, he said. 
He believed the future of farming was looking brighter, although bureaucracy was the industry's biggest problem. 
Mr Shepherd's experience as a fitter and welder came in handy, especially as he lives a reasonable distance from town. His skills are 
also used by most of his neighbours and he organised and judged the engineering module at the Aorangi regional final of the 
Wrightson-Agmardt Young Farmer contest in Oamaru in April. 
Before becoming a farmer, Mr Shepherd fixed machinery, but never got to use it. 
"Now when I put a post in or build a gate, whatever I do, I get to use it." 
Molehill Downs is on the market. Mr Shepherd wants a bigger place and would like to get up to 10,000 stock units. He is still learning 
about farming. 
And as for mastering the art of working sheep dogs? 
"I can get the sheep in. It is not pretty, but I get there," he said.

Difficult getting breaks in NZ music 
By Angela Crompton 
New Zealand might have one of the smallest musical industries in the Western world, but that does not make it any easier to break 
into. 
So says Shane Woolridge, guitarist-singer-songwriter with Queenstown three-piece band Zero. It is releasing its debut CD at the 
Esplanade Hotel tonight and people who like the band's live sounds will be able to buy a copy. But Woolridge is not pinning all his 
hopes on pub crowd appraisal. 
"Some people say if you're not in Auckland, you're not doing `anything'," Woolridge said. He disagrees, however, believing real 
success comes via exposure on radio and television. 
An Englishman, Woolridge arrived in Queenstown 1993 while holidaying in New Zealand. A bricklayer-mason, he was running a 
company in Gloucestershire (also known as the Cotswolds) but had started to feel consumed by business pressures. 
"I came travelling, just to get away from everything." 
After hearing about bungy-jumping adventures from helicopters - "I obviously had a death wish" - Woolridge arrived in Queenstown. 
The Lakes District has been home ever since and he has even set up his own stonemasonry business, Cotswolds Stone. Ideally, 
musical opportunities will eventually take him to a level where employees do most of the masonry work, he said. 
"Songwriting is a place where I really want to excel. I would personally like to be known as a singer-songwriter." 
The challenge of getting a band from Queenstown up to international standards is not lost on the Englishman, however. 
"I know New Zealand has the smallest Westernised music industry in the world . . . and being the smallest, you would think it's one of 
the easiest to succeed in. But it's not. It's one of the hardest." 
The new CD is the first step in a long way ahead, he believes - but contacts made in England where Woolridge belonged to another 
line-up, The Crack, may be able to help. 
He was guitarist, backing-vocalist and co-writer for the hard-core, melodic punk group. It won a national battle of the bands, signed to 
RCA and released a couple of singles which made it into the top 100. Popularity was not high enough to keep the record label 
interested, though, and The Crack was eventually dropped as a tax loss. That had been disappointing, Woolridge said, but other 
"contacts" now want to make an album from 20 of the band's songs. 
He is not seeking any personal royalties, but hopes to convince the album producers that flying Zero band members to the United 
Kingdom for a couple of gigs in London might be a fair return. 
Zero, whose other members are Wal Dix (bass) and Jason Chisholm (drums) was a covers band when Woolridge was invited to join. 
Now, he writes its music and Zero is a Kiwi band with unashamedly British influences. The new album's title, No England's Glory , is 
taken from an acoustic, autobiographical song about a teenager growing up in England. 
One-third of the album was acoustic, two-thirds hard core rock, Woolridge said when asked to describe Zero's music. 
"But stuff I'm writing at the moment is more progressive, more interesting. It takes the brain to a higher place." 
Recording will hopefully start again at the end of the year with more "adult-oriented" music than the current album. 
"The previous stuff is tongue-in-cheek The younger audiences like it. But I want to move on to a more serious groove in music . . . I 
think we have the potential to be a great band." 
Tonight's gig will be followed by a set at the Queenstown Winter Festival's Big Air competition on Cornet Peak on July 19. A short 
album promotion tour will follow with performances in Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch. Check future Fridge gig listings for 
details . . . 

5 August

Front Page News Digest

Quick quiz

1 Which quarry is considered to be the "home" of Oamaru stone?

2 Which US poet was found guilty of treason during World War 2, and was later declared insane?

3 What were the names of the Siamese twins born in Auckland this year?

4 Which is the most westerly township of the North Island?

5 Which legendary French tennis player won five Wimbledon women's singles titles and lost only one match
between 1919 and 1926?

Family denies threatening judge 

By Craig Page

A Dunedin family yesterday denied they were behind a death threat to a local judge, saying they were not
even questioned by police over the allegations.

Earlier this week, Chief District Court Judge Ron Young revealed Judge David Saunders had had his life
threatened twice since the end of last year. 

As a result of the first threat, he received police protection and stood aside from sentencing Clayton,
Rochelle, Craig and Kathryn Harris in a drugs and money laundering case.

In a written decision, suppressed at the time, he said a senior police officer told him on December 6 that
threats to kill him had been made by members of an accused's family. 

"The police information conveyed to me indicated that the police were treating seriously the information they
had received and impressed upon me concerns which they held." 

Judge Saunders said he decided to stand aside to avoid allegations of bias in any sentence he imposed. Three
of the accused appealed their convictions and sentence on grounds unrelated to that move. 

Later this year, after sentencing an offender in a home invasion case, another threat was made against him.

Kathryn Harris, who is now serving home detention, contacted the Otago Daily Times yesterday to reject
claims the family was behind a death threat.

She said they only learnt of the threat when told by their lawyers during the trial. 

The family asked to see evidence or statements about the threat but none was provided by police or the
prosecution.

Mrs Harris said as far as she knew no-one in her family was ever investigated or questioned over the
allegations which was strange "considering these are of a very serious nature".

The family also questioned how a police officer knew about the threat before Judge Saunders found out. 

Police yesterday did not respond to a request for comment on the incident.

Judge Saunders was also the subject of a sexual allegation at the time made by Glenda Harris, sister of
Rochelle Harris.

Chief Judge Young confirmed a woman involved in the drugs case had made a general sexual complaint
against the judge. She had been asked for details but had never given any, so it was assumed she did not
want to pursue the complaint.

When approached yesterday Glenda Harris said, based on legal advice, she was told not to disclose specific
dates and times about the incident to protect her own interests.

She initially wrote to Chief Judge Young with her allegations, at the time of her relatives' trial. He responded
by later asking she supply dates and details of the incident.

"I was advised by my lawyer, Anne Stevens, not to disclose the dates," she said.

Mrs Harris said she again outlined her complaint to the Court of Appeal but no action was taken.

Mrs Stevens could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Judge Saunders (49), a former Crown prosecutor in Christchurch, was appointed to the bench in Dunedin in
1993. 

Chief Judge Young said the threats against Judge Saunders were not serious enough to justify moving him to
another centre.

Wellington: Thousands of New Zealanders yesterday celebrated the birthday of the world's favourite mum. 

The Queen Mother, who turned 100 yesterday, was given a "fitting tribute to a very much loved and great
lady", British High Commissioner Martin Williams said. 

In Wellington, about 150 people, mainly elderly, gathered at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul for a
celebration and thanksgiving service to mark the event. 

Mr Williams, who gave a reading at the service, was joined by Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias and Speaker of
the House Jonathan Hunt. Labour MP Marian Hobbs attended on behalf of the Government while National
MP Annabel Young represented Opposition leader Jenny Shipley. 

However, not everyone in Parliament showed affection for the Queen Mother. 

Green Party MPs Keith Locke and Nandor Tanczos remained seated on Thursday in Parliament while
fellow members stood and applauded her birthday. 

Both said their actions did not derive from disrespect for the Queen Mother but were a statement about the
monarchy's relevance to New Zealand. 

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday described their actions as "rude". 

In Dunedin, celebrations began at 11am with a service at First Church. About 100 people gathered to sing
hymns and Happy Birthday and listen to a brief account of the Queen Mother's life. 

Six pipe bands - the Pipes and Drums of Dunedin, Champions of Otago, City of Dunedin Numbers 1 and 2
and John McGlashan Grades Three and Four - joined the RSA Taieri Pipe Band in the Octagon, where 100
pipers played Happy Birthday . 

"She's a gracious lady," said 83-year-old Nancy Whittleston, who had turned out to celebrate the Queen
Mother's birthday wearing a tartan scarf and kilt. 

Christchurch gave a Queen Mother look-alike the red carpet treatment.

Tunes from the war era evoked many memories for the Christchurch crowd. Daphne Beatty (72) and
Stewart Barber (78) celebrated by dancing to the sounds of the Garden City Big Band.

The crowd sang a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday followed by God Save the Queen , as birthday cake
was distributed in her honour.

Sensitive police files sold with
                           computer 

                                              By Murray Kirkness

                                              A Dunedin man found sensitive police files,
                                              including documents on the David Bain murder
                                              case, on a computer hard-drive he bought at a
                                              public auction this week.

                                              Computer technician Nigel Walker said he was
                                              "horribly shocked" when he discovered the
                                              files, which also included information on the
                                              fatal police shooting of Eric Gellatly in
                                              Invercargill.

                                              Dunedin detectives impounded the hard-drive
                                              at 5.30pm yesterday.

                                              In a statement last night, police said they were
                                              investigating how the computer part came to
                                              be sold.

                                              Mr Walker, who is setting up a computer
                                              business, said he bought the hard-drive for
                                              parts.

                                              After he connected the hard-drive on
                                              Thursday night, he saw the words "Serious
                                              Crime: Server One". After a "little bit of
                                              playing around", the files appeared on screen.

                                              "It was only a couple of minutes and I was
                                              around their password . . . and in through the
                                              back door," Mr Walker said.

                                              "My first thoughts when the files came up
                                              were `You're joking'.

                                              "I just couldn't believe what I was looking at."

                                              The documents included witness statements
                                              and police reports of high profile crimes from
                                              the early 1990s, including the Bain family
                                              murders in Dunedin in 1994 and transcripts
                                              from officers in the police special tactical
                                              group involved in the shoot-out with Mr
                                              Gellatly in 1995.

                                              "Everyone's favourite certain cases, every
name's there: addresses, phone numbers, the lot," Mr Walker told TV1 in an earlier interview.

"Notes about forensic stuff, there was testimonies from people, file names, case names."

Last night, Mr Walker refused to say how many files were on the hard-drive, but it is believed the figure is
more than 3000. Mr Walker would not reveal what was contained in them.

"More than enough has been said about what is on them. I think everyone can imagine."

Police said the computer hard-drive was in a batch of old equipment sent to public auctioneers to be sold.

"We're also very keen to ensure the information does not go any further," acting district commander
Inspector Dave Campbell said in his statement.

"It is not in the police or the public's best interests for any of the information from these files to be
distributed."

Insp Campbell would not comment further last night.

Mr Walker said he had been asked to talk to detectives again on Monday.

He had also been approached by many media services last night.

He said Joe Karam, author of a controversial book about the Bain case, had not contacted him.

Mr Walker bought the hard-drive along with several others from Dunedin's City Auctions on Tuesday. He
refused to say how much he paid for them.

"Not much. I didn't pay a hell of a lot for them."

The ODT understands hard-drives are supposed to be removed from former police computers sold at public
auctions. Some computers also have floppy drives and RAM removed for security purposes.

Mr Walker refused to criticise the police, and said it was simply a mistake from which they would learn.

He thought police should seek independent advice on software security and encrypting hard-drives.

Celebration

              of winters

               in Otago

By Fleur Robinson

The serene beauty and harsh realities of Otago
under snow were relived in a visual feast at
the opening of the Wonderful Otago Winters
photographic exhibition at Dunedin's
Community Gallery last night. 

Invited guests travelled from as far as
Christchurch and Wanaka to view the 140
photographs, which date back 100 years, over
a glass of mulled wine. 

An appearance by the Ice Fairy (Dunedin
actor Rachel More) livened up proceedings as
she declared the exhibition open for the next
two weeks.

Otago Daily Times illustrations editor Stephen Jaquiery paid tribute to his mentor, the late Tom Lloyd, who
was chief photographer at the newspaper for nearly 30 years.

Mr Jaquiery also told how, in the days before digital image manipulation, he had somehow wrongly exposed a
now well-recognised photograph of a lamb being born in the snow but stumbled on some chemicals which,
luckily, lightened it. However, the bright, "sunny day" background somehow became a moody, stormy sky
and the picture went on to win him the 1984 Qantas Photograph of the Year.

Otago Daily Times Editor Robin Charteris paid tribute to all the staff who had taken the photographs and
helped to co-ordinate the exhibition, which he said was an excellent historical as well as pictorial record of
the region.

Mr Lloyd's widow, Helen, said afterward she had enjoyed looking at the many pictures taken by her husband
and wished her children in Wellington had come south for the event.

Dunedin photographer Hardwicke Knight pronounced the exhibition "most impressive", picking out a picture
of the cottage at Fruitlands as his favourite.

"I've seen that cottage many times but I've never seen it in snow," he said.

Former Dunedin resident Glad McLeod, now living in Christchurch, said she remembered the "big snow" of
1939 very well. It was great to see photographs of events that had occurred in the city since she left, she
said.

The exhibition closes on August 17.

Elective heart operations
                              delayed 

                           By Simon Hartley 

                           Dunedin Hospital heart operations will be delayed by up to three weeks
                           because of resignations by junior doctors and staff illnesses.

                           Healthcare Otago chief executive Dr Bill Adam said yesterday
                           non-urgent elective cardiac surgery would be reduced for up to three
                           weeks.

                           "Increased demand for acute services, combined with an unusually high
                           level of staff illness and a temporary reduction of seven junior doctors,
                           will lead to reduced inpatient cardiology services," he said in a statement.

                           The junior doctor loss was "predominantly due" to resignations, but five
                           replacements had been recruited. They would begin work in three weeks
                           and services should return to normal, Dr Adam said.

                           "It's unfortunate that on this occasion they [resignations] have coincided
                           with a particularly busy period at the hospital," he said.

                           Cardiac surgeon Richard Bunton, clinical director of Heart Surgery South
                           Island Ltd, which carries out Healthcare Otago's operations, said a large
                           number of patients was causing a "blockage" in the intensive care unit.

                           "This is the first time we have had to cancel patients," Mr Bunton said
                           when contacted last night.

                           When asked if the delay would put patients at risk, Mr Bunton said acute
                           and emergency patients took precedence over non-urgent cases, but it
                           was unfortunate those on a waiting list would be delayed.

                           Healthcare Otago's staffing problems were forecast in April by New
                           Zealand Nurses Organisation representative Glenda Alexander. 

                           She said then Dunedin Hospital nurses had lost confidence that staffing
                           levels could be adequately maintained over winter and they believed the
                           situation was at a dangerous level

                           Nurses' safety, but not that of patients, would be compromised, she said.

                           Last night Ms Alexander said some departments had difficulty replacing
                           staff, but complaints of shortages had been few until now.

                           "Nurses are reporting they are reasonably busy. Some departments have
                           been flat out," she said.

                           Ms Alexander was aware of Healthcare Otago's April initiative to set up
                           a casual nurses database, but had not been updated on its performance.

                           Dr Adam has received numerous requests from the Otago Daily Times ,
                           including two written requests this week, to comment on the database
initiative and how staff were coping.

In a statement on Tuesday, Dr Adam said work commitments of the senior nursing adviser were delaying a
response on the new database.

Suspected child abuse cases overload Invercargill
                               CYF office 

By Marjorie Cook

A significant increase in reports of suspected child abuse and difficulties recruiting staff are putting
Invercargill's Child, Youth and Family office under pressure.

CYF southern area manager Jamie Gilbertson said yesterday 627 suspected cases were reported to the
Invercargill office to June 30, compared with 497 in 1999.

Smaller increases have been reported at the organisation's Dunedin, Oamaru and Central Otago sites.

Other site statistics were (1999 in brackets): Dunedin 455 (417); Balclutha 105 (108); Central Otago 154
(150); Gore 97 (133) and Oamaru 106 (129).

During the same year, the southern CYF office plunged from first to eighth place (in 12 regions) after a
performance review.

Mr Gilbertson said CYF was "carefully managing" Southland. 

"Every site in Otago and Southland is prioritising their work and getting it done in the best order they can," he
said.

The statistics had to be kept in context, he said. Numbers usually fluctuated at all sites in Otago and
Southland.

Southlanders were well educated about reporting child abuse following promotional campaigns and had
confidence in CYF, he said.

Actual cases might not have increased, but he did not rule that out.

National outrage about the deaths of North Island children James Whakaruru (4) in April last year and
Hinewaoriki Karaitiana-Matiaha (2) last month could spark further reports of abuse, he said.

Meanwhile, performance had to be considered in context with staff vacancies and ability to meet
time-frames, Mr Gilbertson said.

He could not be specific about the number of vacancies, but said there were still "several or about three"
Invercargill vacancies and others in Dunedin.

Two Dunedin jobs have just been filled.

Workload would be balanced against the available people, he said.

"Consideration will be given to filling the other vacancies. They have not been vacant for a great length of
time.

"We haven't had recruitment difficulties in Dunedin or in rural areas, but we have had difficulty in
Invercargill," he said.

The office performed well in the areas of budget management and community collaboration.

Addressing national concerns about abuse in Maori families, Mr Gilbertson said Maori seemed to be
over-represented in statistics, but the South did not have a large Maori population. Any abuse was a serious
community concern and CYF also dealt with "middle-class white families". 

CYF was trying to reduce child abuse by working with Ngai Tahu, Waitaha, and other community agencies,
he said.

In brief 

  Shot with air gun

Invercargill: Two students from Collingwood Intermediate school in Invercargill are being spoken to after
children from another city school were shot with an air gun.

Collingwood Intermediate School principal Jim McKenzie said children from Grasmere School were shot at
after school on Wednesday. An air gun had been recovered. - NZPA

  Attacked burglar

Auckland: An Auckland woman (54) fought off a burglar armed with a knife after he forced her to the
ground in her home.

The Glen Eden woman came home after work to find a man in her house. 

Detectives believe they know who the burglar is and were hunting him. - NZPA

  Sentence quashed

Wellington: A Rimutaka Prison inmate sentenced to 10 days solitary confinement for faxing the
ombudsman has had that sentenced quashed, although he has served most of it.

The Corrections Department yesterday admitted procedural irregularities during a disciplinary hearing against
Brian Damien Hunter.

Hunter is in prison for fraud and other charges, and was writing to the ombudsman to get access to a
computer to prepare documents for an appeal. - NZPA

  Lime works sold

Wellington: Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-operative Ltd says it is taking over the Balfour Lime Company Ltd,
a key Southland lime works since 1935.

Ravensdown chairman Jim Pringle said the purchase fitted neatly with the co-operative having already taken
over another Southland works, Dipton Lime. - NZPA

  Claim `retaliation'

Auckland: A former Department for Courts manager broke recruitment rules by not telling her boss that six
people hired under her were relatives, an inquiry has found.

But the manager, former Auckland District Court collections unit head Losa Purcell-Milford, says she did
nothing wrong. She said the inquiry was in retaliation for a grievance case she took against the department.

The investigation into Mrs Purcell-Milford's hiring practises was launched in June after two staff complaints
of nepotism. - NZPA

  Sunnyside hires staff

Christchurch: Healthlink South has made three new appointments at Sunnyside Hospital to try to stem a
tide of assaults in its rehabilitation unit.

Managing clinical director of mental health Alfred Dell'Ario said the new clinical director, consumer adviser
and nurse practice consultant would be "available to staff to help them look at the way they are dealing with
things".

Sunnyside Hospital staff met this week to voice their anger at assaults on staff and patients. They say there
were more than 240 assaults in the year to February. - NZPA

  Ball-goer collapses 

Napier: A teenager collapsed vomiting and lapsed into a coma after taking a designer drug at Napier's
Colenso High School's ball last Saturday night.

The 18-year-old, the partner of a student but not a student himself, arrived for the school ball in a sober state,
principal Mark Cleary said.

It is believed the man took the drug gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), commonly known as Fantasy or
Liquid E, during the ball and that the effect was almost instantaneous. 

He was taken by ambulance to Hawkes Bay Hospital where he was admitted to intensive care but
discharged the following day. - NZPA

  `Stumbled' into train

Christchurch: A Tranz Rail train driver sounded his locomotive's horn repeatedly before hitting and killing a
Kaiapoi woman, the ambulance service said yesterday.

Caroline Elizabeth Jones (35), died instantly at noon on Thursday when she was hit by a freight train. -
NZPA

Child heart conditions highlighted 

                                              By Leanne Bell

                                              Bounding around her lounge and hounding her
                                              parents to let her stay up late, Katie O'Connell
                                              (6) does not let her troublesome heart stop her
                                              from having fun.

                                              Katie was born with a combination of four
                                              conditions which have required seven stays in
                                              Auckland's Green Lane Hospital, the country's
                                              only specialised paediatric cardiothoracic unit.

                                              She has had open heart surgery twice, four
                                              angioplasties and surgery on her pulmonary
                                              artery.

                                              Her parents, Ross and Sue O'Connell, agreed
                                              to share their story with the Otago Daily
                                              Times for yesterday's Heart Children National
                                              Awareness Day.

"We try to live a fairly normal life," Mrs O'Connell said.

However, things can get quite hectic in the O'Connell household. As well as caring for Katie and two
pre-school children, Mrs O'Connell also runs a home-based day care service and is Treasurer of Heart
Children Dunedin. Ross is a self-employed plumber.

The O'Connells are grateful for the support received from Heart Children New Zealand. On their last trip to
Green Lane, the family were able to stay at BNZ Heart House next to the hospital.

"It was lovely," said Mrs O'Connell.

Heart Children New Zealand also provided financial assistance so both parents could be with Katie for her
operation. Support volunteers were on hand to allow Mr and Mrs O'Connell time away from the hospital.

Although coping well with her conditions, Katie would need a heart valve transplant in the next decade, Mrs
O'Connell said.

"She knows her limitations. She just stops when she runs out of puff."

Capital's blackest day has thousands smiling 

By Brent Edwards

Wellington: Not since the Bledisloe Cup test in Dunedin in 1993 has a rugby international in New Zealand
generated the fervour of today's match in Wellington.

Wellington was decked out in black yesterday and, if the capital city boffins got the idea from Dunedin, at
least they are making the most of a test that is a promoter's dream.

There is a new stadium to go to, there is a Bledisloe Cup to be regained, there is a Tri-Nations title to be
retained, and there is the hope - forlorn though it may be - that the test will rival that in Sydney three weeks
ago for spectacular entertainment.

The new stadium, with a capacity of 35,000, is far too small to accommodate half, let alone all the people
who want to attend this test.

One thing the test is doing is making money for lots of people. One couple spoken to yesterday had sold their
test tickets (for $700) and were having a weekend away from Wellington on the proceeds.

Accommodation has been booked out for months and the caterers at the stadium have shipped in enough
food to feed an army.

They have organised three tonnes of chips, 8000 pies, 4000 burgers, 4500 pieces of chicken, 55kg of
sausages, 200 litres of tomato sauce, 140kg of fresh salmon and 180kg of groper.

All Black coach Wayne Smith said yesterday the players were well aware of the atmosphere.

"The place is certainly rocking. It's like the old days when there used to be test fever."

In 1993, the All Blacks capped the week of test fever by winning 25-10 at Carisbrook to regain the cup. A
similar result today would have Wellington in its best party mood tonight.

The forecast for today is for a change to 35kmh, cold southerlies late in the morning, with a few showers.
Just the welcome the Wallabies want.

  Home ground big advantage - page 23

Bliss for singer despite pressure 

Wellington: New Zealand all-girl pop group, True Bliss, says it is
well prepared to meet Australian rival, Bardot, at the Bledisloe Cup
rugby game today. 

After each group performs its respective country's national anthem
at Wellington's Westpac Trust Stadium in front of 36,500 rugby
fans, the groups will be seated side by side. 

Three members of True Bliss - Erika Takacs, Joe Cotton and
Megan Cassie - who were checking out the stadium yesterday,
said they were prepared for Bardot cheering on Australia. 

"We'll just cheer louder," Cassie said. "But we'll mix and mingle
with them." 

Cassie is married to All Black second five-eighth Pita Alatini and
admitted that when she sang the New Zealand anthem in English
and Maori and the hit, Tonight , Alatini would be on her mind. 

"It means so much to me. It feels I'll be singing for him. It's a bit
selfish but quite cool," she said.

And an All Black win? None would take a punt on the final score.

The three said they were nervous about performing in front of their
biggest crowd in Wellington, with Cotton confessing she had been
having nightmares about trying to get to the stadium on time.

New member Keri Harper would be there for the big event. She
replaces Carly Binding who left the group last month.

Rugby fans attending the test were advised to turn up early to
ensure they saw the kick-off.

Westpac Trust Stadium trust chief David Gray said if everyone arrived just before the All Black-Wallaby
clash started at 2.35pm they were unlikely to get seated in time.

He recommended people aimed to be seated by 2pm. 

Buses will run through central Wellington every 10 minutes between 11.30am and 2pm. – NZPA

Ex-worker critical of museum security 

Auckland: A former Auckland Museum employee says security at the museum was
"average at best".

The man, who did not want to be named, said he worked as building systems supervisor for six months
almost a year ago.

He said the theft of an $85,000 Goldie painting on Tuesday was not surprising.

"Hell, no. I wasn't surprised to hear about the Goldie. I'm just surprised they haven't lost others," he said.

He had real concerns about security at the museum.

These included security tapes not being changed for several months, inexperienced part-time staff, and a
number of master keys going missing or being mislaid.

"I was asked to supervise the re-keying process during my notice period . . . and it was not something I felt
qualified for" he said. "My main job was maintenance."

He said he hoped security had been tightened.

"I knew they had had scares in the past but it seems we have to lose a national treasure before anything is
really done," he said.

While refurbishment was taking place at the museum, security on Goldie paintings was very lax, he said.

"They were all crated up and put in an unlocked room. People were coming and going all the time. Probably
the only reason they were safe was that no-one knew what was in the crates."

The man said he very much doubted anyone working at the museum at the time could have said they were
completely happy with security measures.

Museum director Rodney Wilson said immediate action was taken after the Goldie theft "to shore up one or
two areas that were less secure than we would have liked".

All museums had to balance public access to works of art against securing them, he said. – NZPA

Relatives of dead workers urge Tranz Rail to
                                    listen 

Auckland: The ministerial inquiry into Tranz Rail's safety record wound up yesterday
with a plea not to turn a deaf ear to the testimonies of dead workers' relatives.

The inquiry, ordered after the deaths of five workers in seven months, moved to Auckland yesterday for its
fifth and final day and heard from the relatives of Jack Neha, who died in a shunting accident in Lower Hutt
five years ago.

His widow, Donna, who now lives in Morrinsville, tearfully told of the effect on their family, while his brother
Robbie said political platitudes made at Mr Neha's memorial service had not turned into safety
improvements.

"Politicians stood up and expressed their concern and nothing came of it," he told inquiry head Bill Wilson
QC, during a submission in Maori and English.

"I urge you today, let's have some outcomes. Let this not fall on deaf ears." 

Clutching her mother's hand as she spoke, Mrs Neha said her husband had become a shunter because he
was made redundant as a locomotive engineer.

All his shunting training had been on the job and she did not think it was adequate for such dangerous work.

"The years that have gone by since Jack was killed have presented me and my children with all sorts of
challenges, difficulties and problems that I still feel angry Tranz Rail forced us to cope with by taking away
my husband and my children's father," she said.

"The primary thing I have lost is my best friend, my partner, my lover, my main adult company and a person
who I loved deeply, who I shared interests with and had a real life with.

"I do not think anyone will understand the damage Tranz Rail has done to a family when they take such a
blase attitude towards the death of a person."

After Mrs Neha said she had been shown no sympathy by the company, Tranz Rail northern regional service
delivery manager Caroline Haley repeated an earlier statement that the company felt the accidents and
injuries were not acceptable.

"You can be assured that we have listened and learned," she said.

Tranz Rail was fined $7500 for breaching the Health and Safety in Employment Act over Mr Neha's death.

Mr Wilson said: "It's of the greatest importance this inquiry keeps in mind the personal tragedies which
follow from these accidents."

The inquiry began in Wellington on Monday before moving to Christchurch then Auckland.

Tranz Rail has just over a week to make any further submissions to the inquiry, which is due to report back
to Labour Minister Margaret Wilson by August 31.

Fisheries ministry `satisfied' 

Wellington: The fisheries ministry is satisfied with the conduct of its officials in a boating
accident at Porirua, north of Wellington, that left a man in hospital.

Harold Paul is in Wellington Hospital after a chase involving a fisheries boat on Thursday night which sank
the dinghy he and his son were in.

Fisheries Wellington district compliance manager Ross Thurston said he was "comfortable" the fishery
officers had behaved correctly.

The boat had been under observation that afternoon.

Maritime Safety Authority deputy director Tony Martin said an investigation had started, and the authority
was talking to all the people involved. All boating accidents had to be reported to the authority.

Porirua police said it was a maritime issue and police would not be investigating.

Lack of resources subject of
                           testimony 

Gisborne: A cervical screening programme adviser resigned because he did not want
"blood on his hands", the Gisborne cervical cancer inquiry was told yesterday.

A former co-ordinator of the National Cancer Screening Programme, Teenah Handiside, told of the
programme's lack of resources and Health Ministry "antipathy" towards it.

She said epidemiologist Brian Cox made the comment that he "did not want blood on his hands" when he
resigned as a member of a cervical screening advisory committee. He was frustrated at a lack of progress
on his planned programme audit.

Ministry policy director Judy Glackin and other officials who had attended advisory committee meetings
were aware of Dr Cox's frustration.

Ms Handiside broke down when questioned further.

She said there was a lack of resources and expertise in the Health Ministry and the programme was not
seen as a high priority.

Ms Handiside said she was never able to get senior managers to support allocating enough resources to
monitor and evaluate the programme.

It did not fit easily into any of the health structures of the past decade and suffered from a lack of
commitment and high-level leadership during critical periods of its development.

At senior levels the ministry showed "inherent antipathy" to it.

"The health reforms and repeated restructuring of the 1990s had a negative impact on the national cervical
screening programme.

"The most significant in my view was a lack of commitment to implement a suitable monitoring and
evaluation regime for the programme," Ms Handiside said.

Ms Glackin had told her in 1996 about a screening programme review conducted without consultation with
herself, regional co-ordinators, advisory groups and consumer groups.

The review was held in secret with ministerial approval.

"This was not a trusting relationship," Ms Handiside said.

She was shocked the review advocated dividing the programme within the four regional health authorities.

Asked by inquiry head Ailsa Duffy, QC, where the review team got their information, she said the review
was done on insufficient information.

The proposed restructuring was later cancelled but the programme was subsequently moved to the Health
Funding Authority, the authorities' successor.

Ms Handiside said she was offered a revised position as national co-ordinator in June 1996 but resigned
because the new job description would not allow her to function effectively.

Call to support anti-GE stance 

Wellington: Greenpeace campaigners in New Zealand yesterday called on Nestle and
other multinational food companies to follow seed company Novartis and ban genetically
engineered ingredients from its food products.

"Greenpeace calls on all global food producers to demolish their double standards on selling GE food,"
Auckland-based campaigner Annette Cotter said.

Novartis, a Swiss agribusiness and pharmaceuticals giant at the forefront of GE crop technology, banned
genetically engineered ingredients from all its food brands over a month ago.

The policy was revealed in a letter the company sent to the Belgian Greenpeace office in an attempt to get
the environmental group to include Novartis on its list of GE-free food producers.

Novartis said it aimed to guarantee all its foods - mostly health foods such as cereal bars - were free of GE
ingredients because of pressure from consumers.

Last year, Novartis sought to register for sale in New Zealand and Australia two GE corn ingredients, and,
jointly with Monsanto, a GE sugarbeet ingredients.

A spokesman for Novartis said the company's consumer health division had opted to phase out GE
ingredients from its food lines.

"With the current sentiment among the population towards genetically modified organisms, we have decided
to take all necessary practical measures to avoid using genetically modified organisms in our products
worldwide," Novartis said in its letter.

Ms Cotter said similar action was now needed from other food multinationals "especially companies such as
Nestle who continue to ignore consumer demand for GE-free food in New Zealand, while guaranteeing
GE-free food in Europe."

Greenpeace said Novartis was continuing to sell genetically engineered maize to farmers.

Asked if Novartis' anti-GE stance conflicted with its position as a vociferous promoter of GE seeds, the
spokesman said: "That's a totally different question." 

"All our business centres operate independently in totally different markets. The market for seeds is totally
different from the market for food products," he said.

Genetically engineered food - made from plants whose gene sequence has been altered to give qualities such
as resistance to pesticides - has caused increasing concern among consumers and environmentalists who
fear the new technology could pose a threat to human health or nature.

European Union members have become so sensitive to the issue they have refused to grant any new
authorisations for GE crops for the last two years, Reuters news agency reported.

$500,000 chairlift for Mount Dobson 

By Simon Hartley

South Canterbury skifield Mount Dobson yesterday said a $500,000 chairlift development will begin at the
end of this season.

Owner Peter Foote said the near 1km-long triple chairlift would ascend the field's west valley and work in
conjunction with the existing T-bar, which now provides access to both the west and east valleys.

"The variety of skiable slopes and reliable snow in the west valley make an ideal location for the chairlift.

"Also the wide unloading area is large, flat, and sheltered from westerly winds," Mr Foote said.

To assist with installation of the Doppelmayr chairlift, Mount Dobson is offering "one-off" 2001 season
passes for $200 - a third of their normal price - which have to be purchased before October 30 this year.

Mr Foote said construction of the chairlift had been carefully planned in several stages and some pylons and
dozens of chairs had already been delivered to the field in the past two months.

Concrete foundations for the lift's 12 pylons would be put in immediately after this season and he expected
the erection of frame-work and pylons would begin in the New Year.

After years spent studying lift options, the site was chosen for the best loading and unloading for less
experienced skiers and snowboarders, he said.

Additional earthworks were required to provide access to and from the west valley, but Mr Foote was still
considering several options on where to relocate the existing west valley Poma which would no longer be
needed.
Principals' Federation welcomes system 

                    Tests for pupil assessment developed
                    Wellington: Auckland University has been awarded a contract to
                    develop new tools for use in assessing literacy and numeracy for
                    pupils in years five, six and seven, Education Minister Trevor
                    Mallard announced this week.

                    "This product will provide high quality information for schools, teachers, pupils and
                    parents without running the significant risks of the previous government's pilot of
                    national testing," he said in a statement.

                    Schools would be supplied with the tools in the form of a bank of test items that
                    would allow them to put together tests to suit their own needs at any time during
                    the year.

                    "This will make it easy for schools to . . . identify students' strengths and learning
                    needs," he said.

                    The Principals' Federation welcomed the announcement and said it was the news
                    all primary teachers had been waiting for.

                    "At last we are going to be given the tools to help us do our work better," the
                    federation said.

"This testing method cannot be hijacked or turned into league tables or used wrongly by people with a
negative agenda." –

Artists' help project extended 

By Mark Hotton 

A project aimed at providing support for artists at the start of their careers has been extended for six months.

The Arts Employment Project, run by The Higher Trust, has been under way for seven months and has the
support of Winz and Creative New Zealand.

Spokesman Antony Deaker said extending the project would allow the completion of the Artists Register, a
system being developed within Winz to help the trust provide support to artists.

An important aspect of the process had been for Winz to accept "artist" as an acceptable career choice. This
had been largely accepted in Dunedin, Mr Deaker said.

The next step would be for artists to have dedicated case managers to provide comprehensive support and
information to enable artists to further their careers, he said.

Mr Deaker hoped with the current governments arts-friendly policies and recent budget announcements, the
Artists Register could become a formal pilot programme in Dunedin.

Several business courses tailored for artists, have been run by The Higher Trust and the Small Business
Enterprise Centre and more are planned.

Winz southern public relations adviser Phillipa Connolly said the project's extension was recognition of the
developmental value of the project.

It provided an opportunity to work towards the formalising of the relationship between the department and
artists by managing and supporting them in their chosen careers, she said.

Committed to achieving the best possible outcome for its clients, Winz would work with artists to provide
training and networks to encourage the use of the Artists Register, Ms Connolly said.

The department's existing scheme would be examined to better meet the art employment goals of artists, she
said.

Team finds tumour growth
                        control gene 

Wellington: Wellington researchers say they have found a gene that controls the growth
of tumours.

If the research team, led by Hutt Hospital regional plastic, maxillofacial and burns unit director Dr Swee Tan
and Wellington School of Medicine senior researcher Dr Paul Davis, can learn how to control the gene, they
will have uncovered an important key in treating malignant cancers.

There would also be potential to treat a number of other conditions, including the repair of blood vessels and
the growing of replacement tissues.

The researchers made their breakthrough, which is to be reported in the prestigious American journal
Human Pathology , after studying the common, usually harmless tumours known as "haemangiomas", or
"strawberry birthmarks".

The birthmarks, though benign, behave like many malignant cancers.

Unlike cancers, in which cells multiply uncontrollably, they usually spontaneously regress or shrink after
about a year.

It is the gene that triggers the regression that the team identified, and hoped it could be used to affect the
cancer process in a similar way.

"There are a number of genes involved in naturally programming cell deaths," Dr Davis said. "We've found in
the strawberry birthmarks, that one of these genes is actually turned off during the normal regression
process, providing a possible explanation of how they are controlled.

"If we can find the agent used to control it, we could be able to control cancers."

The research already has clues. The main treatment for tumours was the injection of steroids into the lesion,
Dr Davis said.

"This often works, but nobody knows why . . . we need to find out what happens to the tumour."

Dr Tan said the work would be equally important in dealing with the birthmarks.

"As doctors we ask parents to put up with it . . . that's easy for doctors to say." One in 10 of the sufferers
needed treatment, which could involve harsh doses of steroids.

Drop in rank no deterrent to service 

                                              Staff Reporter 

                                              Dunedin territorial soldier Sharon White was
                                              prepared to accept a temporary drop in rank to
                                              ensure she did not miss out on a chance to
                                              serve in East Timor.

                                              Now almost halfway through her six-month
                                              deployment with the New Zealand Battalion
                                              Group, based in Suai, she has no regrets about
                                              the decision.

                                              "I love it here. I've learnt to appreciate what I
                                              have at home," Corporal White said. 

                                              "The people here have so little and being able
                                              to help them means a lot to me."

                                              Corp White (36) is a familiar face in Dunedin
                                              as an owner-driver for New Zealand Couriers.

                                              She joined the territorial force in 1981, initially
in the Transport Corps. She progressed to the rank of staff sergeant, gaining qualifications in transport
management and now has most vehicle licences.

Despite being a staff sergeant, she was prepared to accept a temporary drop in rank for the tour of duty.
The only posting available in East Timor was for a corporal.

Corp White's role in East Timor is as an administrator in the command post, which provides information
about where the battalion is at any given time. She is also available to drive the Forward Surgical Team's
ambulance.

One of her tasks involves searching the refugee women and children as they come across the border. 

"Not the most pleasant task, but it has to be done and it certainly leaves me wondering how they will manage
with the few belongings they clutch in a plastic bag," Corp White said.

She keeps in regular contact with home by e-mail.

The Otago Southland Regiment also sends welfare packs which include essential items like soap, toothpaste,
drink sachets and sweets. 

Corp White returns to Dunedin in November.

Smaller health boards' cash crises anticipated 

Wellington: Small district health boards may face financial risk from random fluctuations in demand or
one-off events once they are set up, according to Treasury papers released yesterday.

The Government plans to set up 21 transitional district health boards, then elected district health boards by
late 2001.

The papers, prepared in May, say the smallest district health boards, serving populations of fewer than
70,000 people, were Coast Health Care, Wairarapa Health, Tairawhiti Health, Health South Canterbury and
Good Health Wanganui.

"These district health boards may be at financial risk from random fluctuations in the demand for even
emergency care," the papers say. "Few of New Zealand's district health boards are over 250,000 population,
suggesting many district health boards may be at risk from unpredictable, high cost events."

Only Health Waikato, South Auckland Health, Auckland Healthcare, Health Link South/Canterbury Health
and Waitemata Health had populations over 250,000.

The papers also say that where a board had higher than forecast demand for rare events, then annual
deficits were more likely. Pressure would also be placed on other services if boards made cuts to remain
within budget.

"Although to the extent that promoting good health means that rare events are to some extent within a district
health board's control, such events could place undue financial pressure on district health boards."

Under the Government's health reforms, contained in a Bill that was introduced to Parliament this week,
most health funding will be handed directly to district health boards, which will decide local health plans in
line with a national strategy.

The Health Funding Authority, which purchases health services, will be absorbed by the Health Ministry.
Some services, such as national screening programmes or Plunket, will still be funded by the ministry. –

Study supports coronary drugs 

Auckland: An Auckland-led medical research team hopes ground-breaking heart research
will prevent 70 crippling strokes a year nationwide.

Harvey White, director of coronary care at Greenlane Hospital, said six years' research had finally proven
cholesterol-lowering treatments reduced the number of strokes following heart attacks.

He said a loosening of prescription restrictions on treatment drugs, such as pravastatin, would save many
lives.

Prof White and Neil Anderson, also of Auckland, head a study team of top Australian and New Zealand
researchers who have worked with 9000 patients over six years.

The results appear in the latest edition of the prestigious New England Journal of Medi cine .

The initial study results, published in 1998, showed heart attack sufferers could live longer by taking
pravastatin.

Many lives could be saved if more patients with a history of coronary heart disease were given
cholesterol-lowering treatments such as pravastatin, Prof White said.

"For those who have weak hearts, perhaps we can at least save their personalities," he said.

Pravastatin reduced the risk of stroke by 19% in the patients in the study, he said.

Up to 70 strokes a year could be avoided with cholesterol-lowering treatments.

The latest results were the culmination of almost nine years' work, Prof White said.

"I am tired of seeing dignified noble people brought down by a crippling stroke and to think we can help them
is immensely exciting," he said.

"The discovery that pravastatin reduces the risk of stroke provides a reason why it should be made more
widely available. 

"This would not only reduce mortality and morbidity but would also save the country money in health care."

The study would be presented to Pharmac in support of a plea to make pravastatin more readily available,
Prof White said.

At present, heart attack patients had to have a cholesterol level of 5.5 to be prescribed it. 

Those who had not suffered a heart attack had to have a cholesterol level of nine.

Prof White described those restrictions as "severe".

He wanted doctors to be able to prescribe the treatment for coronary patients with lower cholesterol levels.

Still too few fruit and vegetables in NZ diets 

Wellington: New Zealanders overwhelmingly agree fruit and vegetables are good for them but many are not
putting their mouth where their mind is, a new survey shows.

It found fewer than half New Zealand women ate the recommended daily quota of at least five servings of
fruit or vegetables. 

Men ate on average 3.7 servings a day, Maori 3.6 and Pacific Islanders 3.5.

The Research International study commissioned by the produce industry's"5 + A Day" campaign also found
Maori and Pacific Islanders were heavy consumers of takeaway food and instant meals.

The survey's 500 respondents overwhelmingly agreed fruit and vegetables added variety to meals, provided
most of the minerals, vitamins and fibre needed, led to a longer and healthier life and made them feel
healthier.

Just over half said they had fruit or vegetables with every meal.

Respondents blamed inconvenience, taste preference, the need for forward-thinking and children's
reluctance for any lapse in fruit and vegetable intake.

Almost half believed they could also keep healthy by taking dietary supplements.

Researchers found 6% of Pakeha respondents had eaten deep-fried food five times or more in the past
week.

However, 20% of Maori and 23% of Pacific Islanders admitted the same.

Maori and Pacific Islanders also often opted for instant foods such as potato and corn chips, instant pasta
and frozen television dinners.

About 9% of Pakeha had eaten instant food five times the previous week, compared with 34% of Pacific
Islanders and 19% of Maori.

Most respondents were well aware of the health dangers of regularly eating junk food, with three-quarters
agreeing this heightened the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

However, about two-thirds believed a once-a-week treat was acceptable.

PSA seeks guidelines on e-mail
                                   use 

Wellington: E-mail misuse in the public service has reached crisis levels and the Public
Service Association is calling on the State Services Commission to help departments and
agencies develop clear guidelines.

The association says more than 40 staff at the Department of Internal Affairs were warned earlier this year
for passing around an objectionable e-mail.

At the Department of Child, Youth and Family four workers were sacked and another 15 warned about
inappropriate Internet and e-mail use.

The association, in its latest journal, has warned members of the potential dangers of misusing thee-mail
system.

"Your likes and dislikes, your sexual preferences and hang ups, your work for charity or your drug use - all
can be revealed to your employer or manager."

Association organisers are reporting, and dealing with, an increasing number of alleged e-mail misuse cases,
the journal says.

"It's reached crisis proportions, and the fallout of differing approaches, tolerances and standards is causing
problems."

E-mail misuse was taken seriously and punishment varied from a reprimand and written warning to dismissal.

"Surveys show 95% of workplace e-mail users use e-mail for private use at work. And it's no surprise
employer `fishing' expeditions turn up objectionable images and jokes. But the reported increased incidence
of misuse is probably a result of employers using bigger and better nets in a larger pond."

Association national secretary Richard Wagstaff said most employees were not aware theire-mails could be
monitored, or that some departments had guidelines.

"There needs to be open development and promulgation of internal guidelines for the use of e-mail and
Internet . . . It needs to be an open and well-understood policy in all organisations where this technology is in
use."

Some departments have banned personal use of e-mail but the association says that is extreme.

"This is a patronising response, at odds with the evolving new trust and good faith industrial environment," Mr
Wagstaff said.

Intentional damage 

Balclutha : A Waiwera South man was found guilty earlier this week of intentional damage during a
domestic incident late last year.

Trevor Gordon Farquhar appeared in the Balclutha District Court last Monday before Judge Gary MacAskill.

Judge MacAskill fined the defendant $750, ordered him to pay reparation of $100, court costs of $130 and
witness expenses of $200, to be paid at $20 per week.

  Fined for assault

Christchurch : Two waterfront workers who admitted assaulting a man after he allegedly ran down a
picket line protester at the Port of Lyttelton last December were fined in the Christchurch District Court
yesterday.

Clinton John Norris (40), cargo handler, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting Derek Paul Powell on
December 29.

Keven Bruce Watterston (47), crane driver, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault.

Judge Colin Doherty fined both $500 on each charge. - NZPA

  Teacher found guilty

Wellington : A Lower Hutt special needs teacher has been found guilty on one of four charges of assault
on his students.

After five and a-half hours of deliberation, a jury found James William Middleton guilty of grabbing the hair
of one of his students in an incident at Prospect College, a Christian school for problem students.

The charges related to incidents between 1998 and last year, involving boys aged 11, 13, 14 and 16.

The judge remanded Middleton at large until August 15 when a date for sentencing will be set. - NZPA

  Jailed for fraud

Christchurch : A disgraced Christchurch lawyer this week jailed for a multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud
was a former New Zealand Party president who campaigned for harsher sentences for fraud.

Malcolm James McDonald (51) was sentenced to four and a-half years jail for being what Christchurch
District Court Judge Graeme Noble described as the "ideas man" in the 1997-98 fraud that involved over $4
million of properties and cost banks about $1.5 million.

Scalping allegations made 

Wellington: Allegations a New Zealand Rugby Football Union staff member is involved
in ticket scalping are being investigated, union chief executive David Rutherford said last
night.

One News said it had found a union staff member had been involved in selling tickets, at inflated prices, to
today's Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington.

The union did not condone "anyone scalping tickets under any circumstances", Mr Rutherford said.

"The allegation made on TVNZ news tonight is a very serious one and the NZRFU has started an
investigation into the matter."

TVNZ had been asked for a full copy of tape recordings it alleged supported the scalping claim, he said.

But TVNZ news and current affairs boss Paul Cutler told NZPA the tapes would not be released.

"It's not our policy to do that," he said.

"The only way we generally hand over tapes is by a court order."

In brief 

  Boomerang car theft

A car which was stolen two weeks ago and used in a spate of Mosgiel burglaries has disappeared again.

Senior Sergeant Bruce Ross said the 1981 green Holden Commodore station-wagon was taken from Taieri
Rd on Thursday night.

Two weeks earlier, the car was also stolen. It was believed to have been used during the burglary of two
Mosgiel service stations before being discarded at Woodside Glen.

It was not known if the thefts were linked.

  Next month for fellowships

The recipients of next year's Robert Burns, Mozart and Frances Hodgkins fellowships should be known by
the end of September.

Gennie Hall, manager for the University of Otago's personnel service, said 23 applications had been received
for the Burns Fellowship, and four for the Mozart Fellowship. Those programmes closed yesterday while the
Frances Hodgkins Fellowship closes on September 8.

More entries were expected to arrive over the weekend, she said.

The fellowships are each worth $46,350 and allow the fellows to carry out a year of work in the environment
of the university.

  Correction

A person named as a friend of author Janet Frame in yesterday's coverage of the launch of her biography
was wrongly identified as Lynley Hood. She was, in fact, Pamela Gordon. The error is regretted.

Celebration of chocolate officially launched in
                                     city 

By Leanne Bell

The Octagon was chock-a-block with people yesterday for the official opening of the inaugural Cadbury
Chocolate Carnival.

Home-made chocolate baking rapidly sold out when the Eastern Otago Federation of the Country Women's
Institute stall was mobbed by hoards of hungry people.

"We had people queueing as soon as we arrived," federation president Joy Larkins, said. 

Institute members also created the "mother of all chocolate cakes" to celebrate the Queen Mother's 100th
birthday. The birthday cake was later cut and served at the Octagon Seniors Club.

Dunedin City Council events co-ordinator Islay McLeod was pleased with the public turn-out and thought the
launch of the festival had gone well. 

"It sent strong signals for the event to be repeated next year. Dunedin is a very enthusiastic city," Ms
McLeod said.

She hoped support would be equally strong for today's festivities, which include a "choc art" display at the
Dunedin Community Gallery and the Cadbury-land Exhibition at the Otago Museum.

Meanwhile, the launch of a book recounting the history of chocolate manufacturers Cadbury and Hudson
yesterday was attended by about 100 past and present employees. 

The launch of Sweet Success - The Story of Cadbury and Hudson in New Zealand was held at the
Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

Author Edward (Ted) Barringer said he spent about 18 months working on the "labour of love". The book
was launched to coincide with the start of the Chocolate Carnival.

"It helped me with my retirement," Mr Barringer said. 

Copies of the book are available from the Cadbury factory.

Dunedin celebrates Queen Mum's 100th 

                                              By Leanne Bell

                                              Dunedin hosted the mother of all birthday
                                              celebrations yesterday as the Queen Mother
                                              turned 100.

                                              Celebrations began with a service at First
                                              Church Otago at 11am. About 100 people
                                              gathered to sing hymns and Happy Birthday
                                              and listen to a brief account of the Queen
                                              Mother's life.

                                              Six pipe bands - the Pipes and Drums of
                                              Dunedin, Champions of Otago, City of
                                              Dunedin Numbers 1 and 2, and John
                                              McGlashan Grades Three and Four - marched
                                              up George St. The bands were joined by the
                                              RSA Taieri Pipe Band in the Octagon, where
                                              100 pipers played Happy Birthday to the
                                              Queen Mother.

                                              DCC events co-ordinator Islay McLeod
                                              estimated about 3000 to 4000 people gathered
                                              in the Octagon when the pipe bands merged.

                                              "She's a gracious lady," said Nancy Whittleston
                                              (83), who had turned out to celebrate the
                                              Queen Mother's birthday wearing a tartan
                                              scarf and kilt.

                                              A birthday cake, so big it had to be brought to
                                              the Octagon on a fire engine, was created by
                                              the Eastern Otago Federation of Country
                                              Women's Institute. The cake was decorated
                                              with 100 rosebuds and "10 candles to represent
                                              each decade of her life", Joy Larkins,
                                              federation president, said yesterday.

                                              In the afternoon, the cake was taken to the
                                              Octagon Seniors Club, where members danced
                                              to swing music played by the Dunedin City
                                              Slickers. Life member Miriam Chapman cut
the cake.

The city's birthday card was signed by about 200 people at First Church before it was taken to the Octagon
Seniors Club and St Paul's Cathedral. It would stay at St Paul's over the weekend, before being bound by the
Dunedin Public Library and sent to the Queen Mother, Ms McLeod said.

In brief 

  Mite fight to start

Wellington: Treatment of apiaries infected with the varroa bee mite will start on Monday, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) said. 

A headquarters had been set up in Hamilton and beekeepers eligible for the free treatment had been
contacted, MAF spokesman Matthew Stone said in a statement.

The treatment stage would take 10 weeks and cost about $1.3 million. Details of a two-year pest
management plan were still to be discussed by MAF, beekeepers and the horticulture industry. - NZPA

  Wait for Internet

New Plymouth: A technical fault has turned the world wide web into the world wide wait for thousands of
New Zealand Internet users.

On Wednesday night, a fault occurred in hardware at the Warkworth satellite station, restricting space for
Internet traffic, Telecom spokesman Glen Sowry said yesterday.

The fault meant Internet users had difficulty viewing web pages or downloading from international Internet
sites. - NZPA

  NZ tourist dies

Bangkok: A New Zealand tourist has died at Koh Samet island resort in Thailand, allegedly after breaking
his neck in a fall, police said yesterday.

The body of Karl Gavin Francis (34), of Wellington, was found below a hillside bar on Samet Island,
150km southeast of Bangkok, a police spokesman said. - DPA

  Shepherd killed

Hastings: A young Wairoa shepherd has been shot dead by his own gun just hours before he was to
celebrate his 20th birthday. 

Russell Brownlie , the 1998 national schoolboys' clay bird shooting champion and an avid outdoors man,
was found dead beside his car on Waihi Station, near Tuai, northern Hawkes Bay, about 7.30pm
Wednesday.

It is thought his gun discharged while Mr Brownlie was getting in or out of his vehicle while alone on a
possum shoot. – NZPA

Speech contest 

By Leanne Bell

Sending a message of peace to their community, two Logan Park High School students took the first two
places in the National Council of Women Dunedin schools' speech competition this week.

Liesl Nunns and Hannah Smith (both 17) were first and second respectively in the speech competition held
to celebrate the United Nations International Year of Peace, which focuses on Peace in our Community.

The contest, which attracted four entrants from secondary schools in the Dunedin area, was judged by Prof
Jocelyn Harris, of the University of Otago English department, and Pauline Malhaski, a social justice and
peace activist.

Liesl and Hannah, coached by Kristan Mouat, spoke on the topic "That peace should be the aim of each of
us and is the responsibility of us all".

Child hearing loss not detected 

Wellington: Hearing loss in New Zealand children is being picked up too late, and even
then help is only available for those with serious problems, a visiting American expert
says. 

Fred Bess, Professor of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University, told the Audiological Society
Conference in Rotorua that New Zealand's record in early detection of hearing loss in infants was poor. The
average age of detection of significant hearing loss was 21 months. 

The internationally recommended age of detection was three months, with intervention by six months. 

Dr Bess said new evidence showed that children with minimal hearing loss were dramatically disadvantaged
in their educational achievements. One in 20 children had a permanent mild hearing loss and 37% of those
failed at least one grade in school. 

More than half had difficulty in academic learning, attention and communication, and children with mild
hearing loss also exhibited greater social and emotional dysfunction than their normal hearing counterparts in
stress, self-esteem, behaviour and energy, Dr Bess said. 

At any one time in a classroom, 11.3% of children might have a hearing loss, and at least half a permanent
hearing loss. 

Special Education project manager Sally Jackson said a national Deaf Education Agency set to open by the
end of this year should ensure a better service for deaf and hearing-impaired children.

Police to review woman's death 

Auckland: The mystery death of a Japanese backpacking tourist two years ago in Auckland will be reviewed
within a month. 

However, Police said they had no new clues on the death 29-year-old tourist Kayo Matsuzawa. Her
decaying body was found in a locked cupboard in a downtown Auckland building on September 22, 1998. 

She was last seen 11 days earlier, checking into a backpackers hostel. 

Her body was too badly decomposed for police to tell how she had died or if she had been sexually
assaulted. Her body bore some injuries but police have never revealed details. 

A $50,000 reward failed to bring in any information to help police.

Sponsorship cuts costs 

Aoraki Polytechnic electrical engineering students will pay just a fraction of original course fees after local
businesses chipped in.

The course will now cost $350 compared with $2000.

Polytechnic chief executive Wendy Heath said the one-off deal for the pilot 15-week National Certificate in
Electrical Engineering course was possible with help of sponsors.

High fees had been seen as a barrier for students wanting to enrol in the previous electrotechnology course.
Local business support reinforced the fact the industry was keen to get more qualified people, Ms Heath
said.

Hat trick of triplets at Timaru 

Things really do come in threes in South Canterbury.

In the past year and three days, three sets of triplets have been born at Timaru Hospital after none for three
decades.

The latest additions are Reese, Deonie and Kale, who were born on Tuesday to Timaru couple Lee and
Shane McClay.

The two baby girls, Reese and Deonie, are identical twins and Kale is the couple's first son.

"I'm quite happy," Mr McClay said yesterday, as he expertly changed his son's nappy.

"Obviously, they're going to be a bit of a task but I'm sure we're well up to it."

Mrs McClay learned she was having triplets about three months into the pregnancy. 

"It was pretty daunting when they brought in the bassinets before I went into surgery. The reality really hit
home," she said.

Her anaesthetist for her elective Caesarean was herself a triplet.

Reforms were right: educator 

By Blair Mayston

Yesterday may have been her last day on the
job, but Pam Robertson's office at the Ministry
of Education was spotless.

There was no sign of the traditional hurried
clean-up, or of the boxes filled with personal
mementoes.

In fact, a shoe box bulging with farewell cards
was the only sign of the almost-always
organised Otago-Southland operations
manager's departure.

"I've been inside education ever since I was
about 3," she said during a break from briefing
her successor.

"When I retire, for the first time in my life I'll
be able to look in from the outside."

Ms Robertson's retirement marks the end of a
career working in schools and education administration that has spanned almost 37 years.

"I think I always wanted to be a teacher. When you're young you play games and my game was being a
teacher. I rather enjoyed being the one in charge of all the other kids," she said, chuckling.

Ms Robertson graduated from the Dunedin Teachers College in 1963 and her entire teaching career was
spent in Otago.

She taught at Melville Park School, Cromwell District High School, Green Island School, Ravensbourne
School, Forbury School and George St Normal School.

She recalls her teaching days fondly.

"You always get fresh youngsters coming in every year and every one of them is different, every one is a
special treasure. That's what I used to call my kids - my wee treasures," she said.

"There's a lot of joy in meeting up with a group of young ones - finding out where they're up to, what they're
able to do and working out how to help them fly by themselves."

When she was seconded to the Education Department in 1988, Ms Robertson missed the direct contact with
children "dreadfully", but soon realised she could have an impact on them at a wider level through
administration.

During her time with the department, which became the Ministry of Education in 1989, there have been
many changes.

Ms Robertson, who became acting Otago-Southland manager in June 1997 and was appointed about 18
months later, is careful not to air her views on the more contentious issues, such as bulk funding, that arose
during her term in administration.

"When you work for the government you work for the government of the day and, as an education
administrator, your responsibility is to pick up the government policy . . . I need to be a bit of a chameleon."

But she is an enthusiastic supporter of the 1989 reforms, which saw the creation of school boards of
trustees. 

She acknowledged some school boards had problems, but sought to put those in perspective.

In Otago there were about 180 schools and only five or six a year ran into trouble, she said.

She believed the ministry was improving its relations with schools, but conceded they were not good enough
yet.

"We need to build up trust with schools so when there is a worry they'll come to us early, so they're not
afraid we'll recommend dismissal of the board or something serious like that," she said.

Most schools were comfortable enough to do that, though not all.

The large increases in teachers' salaries during recent years were warranted, she said, because their job was
a difficult one that demanded respect.

But she believed teachers should be happy with their pay now: "So much so, it's difficult to attract them to
work in the ministry."

At 55, Ms Robertson is young to be retiring but she could not give a concrete reason for her decision.

"There comes a time when it just feels right, and it feels right for me now to take a break. To take time out
to smell the roses."

Travelling is on the agenda, although no itinerary has been decided. In the meantime, Ms Robertson, who is
unmarried, plans to put her feet up: "I just want to do nothing for a while."

Liaison officer Gay Turner will be the acting operations manager.

Govt funding bid prepared 

                       By Andrea Jones 

                       The Dunedin City Council is preparing its case to attract Government funds
                       for economic development in the region.

                       Spearheading its efforts to secure funding are three projects - wood
                       processing, Project Gateway and the Centre for Innovation.

                       Dunedin had already begun its own efforts to bring jobs and opportunities into
                       the city, but partnerships, such as those already established between the
                       council and the business community, were important, council economic
                       development committee chairman Cr Malcolm Farry said when contacted on
                       Thursday.

                       Earlier this year, council representatives discussed with Economic
                       Development Minister Jim Anderton projects which would be suitable for
                       partnerships with central government.

                       Those discussions had continued and the council had three projects of
                       regional significance at the top of its list. They were adding value to the
                       regional forest resource, enhancing regional trade with Australia through
                       Project Gateway - promoting daily flights to and from Sydney - and the
                       Centre for Innovation, a University of Otago venture aimed at making
                       research commercially viable.

"We're hopeful the ministry will give serious consideration to working with credible and existing organisations
like ourselves," Cr Farry said.

Work on the projects was being done to place them within the ministry's policy guidelines. The funding
proposals would go to the Government next month.

The council did not expect any "soft money" and supported funding being tagged to individual projects and
dependent on results, he said.

At the same time, the council was talking with other Otago local authorities to look at ways they could work
together on economic development.

At this week's council meeting, an item called "economic advisory board and regional development initiative"
was discussed in private.

While Cr Farry could not disclose details of the proposal, it did relate to ways in which south- ern local bodies
could work together for economic spin-offs.

The council would discuss the city's regional initiatives during informal talks with other local bodies in Otago
next week, he said.

Mr Farry also hoped talks would include Southland local bodies at the next Local Government New Zealand
zone 6 meeting, for Otago and Southland. 

The regional issues raised in the area of wood processing were much broader than those surrounding the
stalled Allanton proposal.

For example, Dunedin would discuss with Clutha support for the planned Brightwood development at
Milburn, just north of Milton, Mr Farry said. 

As the closest city, Dunedin had a range of professional and technical services available, such as legal and
financial expertise, and it was home to the Port of Otago.

"Anything we can do to help the project at Milburn, it would be very wise for us to do."

That did not mean the council would not continue to work vigorously for timber processing within its
boundary, as that would carry increased advantages, he said.

As well as the direct economic benefits, such a development would pay rates and the company would be
involved in the community in areas such as sponsorship.

"We'll work with next door, but we have to have an intense focus on what happens in our ratepayer area."

He believed it was possible to have healthy competition and healthy co-operation.

Dunedin had already raised the issue of Project Gateway with Clutha and Waitaki. Some staff changes in
those areas meant discussion was being re-established.

There was a strong regional focus for the Centre for Innovation project which, in time, could benefit the
South Island as a whole, Mr Farry said.

Guys with flair show some bottle, barring
                                accidents 

By Fleur Robinson

Flair is the official description for the bottle
throwing antics of creative bartenders.

And just how much flair three Dunedin
bartenders have will be put to the test an
inaugural South Island contest in Christchurch
tomorrow. 

Ra Bar staff Neyl Moniz, Steve Gaut and
Shane Legge will be vying for the judges'
attention with zany bottle spins and creative
cocktail recipes.

Mr Legge said he first tried "flairing" about the
same time the movie Cocktail came out in the
early '90s.

"It makes the job more pleasant. It's become a
new aspect of the industry."

He does not practise with plastic bottles, preferring glass ones partially full. Many of the moves were
spontaneous, depending on how the bottle fell, he said.

Ra Bar owner Michael O'Connor said his staff were trained to flair and it attracted customers. Rubber mats
were put down behind the bar so any accidental slips created minimal damage.

Mr Legge said the odd broken bottle often resulted in a cheer from the audience, and acknowledged he had
sometimes paid out of his own pocket for replacements.

Mr O'Connor said reaction varied.

"Some people say `hurry up, I want my drink' but most of them are very patient and enjoy the show."

In Christchurch, the three will have to perform to music and pour two special cocktails for the judges, one of
whom is the New Zealand flair champion. The winner of tomorrow's contest, held at Sticky Fingers, will go
on to compete for the national title.

Wakari case delayed 

By Simon Hartley 

Healthcare Otago's investigation of Wakari Hospital whistleblower Liz Heenan has been postponed until
Tuesday, Healthcare Otago chief executive Dr Bill Adam said in a statement yesterday.

Ms Heenan (43) is Healthcare Otago's mental health consumer adviser.

She was suspended on July 12 by Healthcare Otago for her criticism, made to the Otago Daily Times, of
mental health patient care and suicides, overburdened wards and stressed staff at Wakari Hospital. The
ODT published her comments on July 13.

Dr Adam, responding to written questions yesterday, said the process "has been postponed until August 8, at
the request of Ms Heenan's lawyer".

Ms Heenan's lawyer, Marie Grills, declined comment.

Youth forum backs schools on abortion 

By Blair Mayston

Parents upset schools can help students arrange abortions should blame
the law, not the schools, the Dunedin Youth Forum says.

"The law is quite clear on this issue. If parents have problems with the
existing legislation, surely it would be more appropriate for them to
discuss their concerns with their member of Parliament," co-ordinator
Adam Doesburg said yesterday.

"The last thing schools need is parents pointing the finger."

Mr Doesburg was commenting after a Christchurch woman went public
this week with her concerns that Linwood High School helped her
15-year-old daughter arrange an abortion without her knowledge.

The Guardianship Act allows a female of any age to give consent or
refusal to an abortion as if she was an adult.

The only requirement a school has to notify parents of their child's
actions is under the Education Act, which limits that notification to
anything affecting the child's progress at school and relationships with
teachers and other students.

Dunedin principals contacted on Wednesday said they tried to encourage students to involve their families,
but the final decision lay with the child.

Mr Doesburg supported their comments, calling them balanced and realistic.

"Schools are in a very tough situation and people need to accept that the rights of the student and their ability
to trust school staff implicitly must remain a school's number one priority," he said.

It was obviously preferable for young women to have the support of their parents in dealing with an abortion,
but there were sometimes valid reasons not to involve the family. School counsellors had to respect that the
decision lay with the student.

If the school was to break the trust of a student, it was likely that student and others would not confide in
staff in the future.

"This has the potential to leave students completely isolated and in a very unsafe position."

Used car salesman-free day 

By Murray Kirkness

Can't stand used car salesmen? But you want to buy a car? Then try Carbase Dunedin today - you won't
find a salesman in sight.

After many years of trading seven days a week, Carbase Dunedin has decided to close its doors on
Saturdays.

According to Carbase business manager Ian Holden, there are several reasons for the decision: it gives
people the time to browse at their leisure, Saturday mornings are quiet anyway and, most importantly, car
salesmen need to have a life too.

"Like most people, we seem to be spending more and more time at work," Mr Holden said.

"We work a minimum 60-hour week even without the extra day. This will hopefully give us a bit more time
to spend on other pursuits and get a bit of balance in our lives.

"It's an attempt to bring back the old days, I guess."

Mr Holden said a lot of thought had gone into the decision, which will see the car yard introduce a longer
trading day each Sunday. Salesmen will also be on call on Saturdays, with Carbase's telephone diverted to
after-hours numbers.

"We talk to a lot of people but don't sell many cars on Saturdays," he said. "It's a bit of a risk, but we're
hoping anyone with a genuine interest will view the cars in peace on a Saturday and then come back and see
us later."

The decision drew mixed reaction from other Dunedin car yards.

Kirk Motors dealer principal Barry Lampshire said his business planned a longer working week.

"We're looking at late night trading, probably each Thursday night," Mr Lampshire said. "So, we're actually
going the other way. We have no intention of anything other than trading seven days a week."

However, Cooke Howlison's new car sales manager, Mark Laughton, said his company already enjoyed a
six-day week.

"We close on Sundays for the same reason - so people can have a salesman-free day," Mr Laughton said.

HFA issue `complex' 

By Simon Hartley

Healthcare Otago has given no indication whether it will make submissions on the Health Funding Authority's
travel and accommodation assistance policy which affects patients and families requiring specialist medical
attention outside Otago.

Of $12.1 million allocated for travel allowances, $4.2 million is for the South Island and $7.9 million for the
North Island.

The travel assistance issue was highlighted following an HFA review a year ago which recommended
centralisation of child cancer treatment away from Otago and Southland to Christchurch.

Parents and Healthcare Otago reacted angrily to the proposal. Chief executive Dr Bill Adam considered the
loss of Healthcare Otago's sole paediatric oncologist as a hospital downgrade.

Dr Adam said yesterday: "The relative spend of money between travel and different aspects of health
services is a complex issue decided at a national level.

"The [HFA's] policy is a draft policy which will be considered by Healthcare Otago and comments made
where appropriate to the HFA," he said.

A Dunedin public meeting, one of 18 nationally, is scheduled for September 4 before consultation closes on
September 30.

Initiative launched to promote breast-feeding 

By Simon Hartley 

A "baby friendly" hospital initiative was
launched at Dunedin Hospital yesterday to
encourage hospitals and health care facilities to
educate and support breast-feeding mothers
throughout the world.

Guest speaker at the launch, which attracted
more than 25 associated health groups, was
New Zealand Breast-feeding Association
co-ordinator Julie Stufkens.

The initiative was developed by the World
Health Organisation and Unicef to educate
mothers in both underdeveloped and
industrialised countries.

"A baby friendly hospital is a health care
facility that promotes exclusive breast-feeding
from birth," she said.

Goals of the initiative are to implement 10
steps to successful breast feeding and to end the practice of distributing free and low cost supplies of breast
milk substitutes to hospitals and health care facilities.

Included in the 10 steps for each hospital is for them to have a written breast feeding policy, training for
staff, information made available to pregnant women of the benefits of breast-feeding and for staff to help
mothers initiate feeding within half an hour of birth.

If they met the WHO and Unicef criteria, hospitals could become accredited as baby friendly hospital.

St Hildas exceeds roll, warned
                         by ministry 

                           By Fleur Robinson

                           St Hildas Collegiate has exceeded its maximum roll limit this year, the
                           second time in three years, bringing a warning from the Ministry of
                           Education.

                           St Hildas is an integrated school which is allowed to maintain its special
                           character, in this case as an Anglican school, in return for limiting its roll
                           of students funded by the ministry.

                           The school's roll is set at 400. However, at March 1, the school was
                           eight domestic students over that limit. Past school roll figures show St
                           Hildas also exceeded its roll in 1998, by three.

                           Ministry of Education Otago-Southland operations manager Pam
                           Robertson yesterday confirmed the roll limit was exceeded and said the
                           ministry had sent a letter of warning to the school, asking how it was
                           going to meet its obligation and get back down to the limit by next year.

                           Those extra students would not be funded but the roll limit was in place
                           in order to ensure the school did not draw students away from state
                           schools, she explained. The roll limit did not apply to overseas students
                           who paid full fees.

School principal Christine Leighton said the situation this year had occurred through senior students staying
on at school and the junior school intake remaining the same.

"We have to determine our Year 9 [Form 3] intake in July when we don't know our number of senior
students who are leaving until December. It's impossible."

The school was now talking with the ministry about having its roll limit increased.

"We've done our figures and are looking at being able to increase the roll by about 20 or 25 so that we can
accommodate the kids who are staying."

The situation was further complicated by strong demand among students wanting to board at the school for
their senior years, which meant they also needed a place at the school, she said.

"While you've got people beating on the door to come in, you're not going to say `no' to people while you've
got perhaps three places sitting in the school."

  Ms Robertson's last day on the job - page 22

Road closing for logging 

By Andrea Jones 

Three Mile Hill Rd will be closed for up to seven hours each weekday for about two months from next
month to allow for forestry logging, the Dunedin City Council says.

However, the closure hours of 9am to 3.30-4pm, Monday to Friday, would allow people to use the road to
travel to and from work, council transportation planning manager Don Hill said when contacted yesterday.

The weekday closures from September 11 to November 3, will be on the area of Three Mile Hill Rd from
Flagstaff Whare Flat Rd to Silverstream Valley Rd.

City Forests Ltd would log trees along the roadside. The road had to be closed for safety reasons. There
would be extensive publicity nearer the event, and signs to inform motorists when the route was not
available, Mr Hill said.

City Forests general manager Phil Taylor said when contacted it was a difficult harvesting operation because
the site was "sandwiched" between Three Mile Hill Rd and high-tension electricity cables.

About 5000cu m of mixed species wood would be taken off the site in two separate operations, of which the
September to November work was the first. 

For motorists approaching Dunedin from Mosgiel, the affected trees were on the right-hand side.

Because of the closeness of the road to the trees, national and company requirements meant the road had to
be closed. There were too many constraints on the operation for traffic to be allowed through while work
was under way, Mr Taylor said.

Festival audiences `more even' 

By Mark Hotton

The International Film Festival may have gone "pretty well", but it will still be in the red when it leaves
Dunedin, according to director Bill Gosden.

Final figures were not available yesterday because it does not finish until tomorrow night, but Mr Gosden
was happy with audience numbers.

The Charlie Chaplin comedy, Modern Times, with the Dunedin Sinfonia, had been the most popular, with
1100 attending the only screening on the first weekend.

The final weekend was traditionally the busiest time, and he expected tomorrow's screening of the family
classic, The Wizard of Oz , to be popular.

"Attendances were more consistent this year," he said.

"They've been more even - fewer peaks and fewer poorly attended."

Thursday night's screening of Australian film Chopper had been one of the most disappointing, especially as
"it was a great film", Mr Gosden said.

The festival's object was to broaden the options of film-goers in New Zealand by bringing in a variety of
films which the public would not normally have the chance to see.

He was concerned Dunedin audiences appeared to take the festival for granted as "they know they are
always going to get it".

There were few cities of similar size around the world which could enjoy such a substantial international film
festival, Mr Gosden said.

The fact Dunedin always made a loss was often mentioned by the festival executive, but because he hailed
from Dunedin meant he felt a sense of loyalty.

"We are a charitable trust so we're not in it to make a huge profit."

While it would probably return for its 25th year, he could not commit to anything beyond that.

"It's hard to look into the crystal ball."

Go Otago success may lead to more 

By Andrea Jones 

The Go Otago Exhibition may be held again next year, depending on funding and support for observing Otago
Anniversary Day, organisers say.

The inaugural showcase of Otago business, talent and technology was held at Wingatui on March 20 this
year.

The Dunedin City Council confirmed yesterday it would commemorate Otago Anniversary Day on Monday,
March 26, next year.

Go Otago Exhibition Society chairman Sam Inder said organisers were buoyed by this year's success and
would like to hold the event again in 2001.

However, they would rather hold it every second year than hold it every year and have it "not go well".

The society needed more funding, and wanted to know people would observe the holiday so it could be a
family day out.

If schools could not observe anniversary day on March 26, Mr Inder said Go Otago would try to include
items in its programme which would encourage schools to take pupils there for the day.

March 26 next year was the date favoured by the society. The actual date for Otago Anniversary Day is
March 23.

Cast stranded on road to the show 

By Mark Hotton

Mechanical problems prevented the cast of Ahorangi 2000 from performing at Otago Girls High School
yesterday.

Principal Jan Anderson said a call had been received from the group just after noon to say their bus had
broken down near Palmerston.

While it had been hoped the group would make it, the cast was unable to get a mechanic in time, she said.

It was hoped a performance could be arranged for the school on Wednesday.

Ahorangi 2000 is a Maori musical stage show which brings to life spiritual creation stories, highlighting the
emotions and deeds of the gods as they have been told for centuries.

It will be performed at Dunedin's Westpac Trust Mayfair Theatre today and tomorrow at 7pm. Tickets are
available from the Regent Theatre.

HCO post advertised 

By Simon Hartley

The position of personal assistant to Healthcare Otago's chief executive, Dr Bill Adam, and board chairman,
Ross Black, has been advertised.

Current personal assistant Allanah McDonnell was appointed to the position on August 23 last year, four
months after the job was first advertised.

Mrs McDonnell is still working as Dr Adam's assistant.

The position advertised last week is for an experienced senior personal assistant to provide administrative
support to senior management and the board. Applications close on August 18.

Incentive plan for top rooms 

By Andrea Jones 

Christchurch businessman Earl Hagaman still hopes five-star suites can
be built in Dunedin's Southern Cross Hotel.

He has asked Dunedin city councillors to consider providing a financial
incentive for such a development, but has yet to receive a reply.

Mr Hagaman is the executive chairman of Scenic Circle Hotels Group,
which owns the Southern Cross Hotel.

Mr Hagaman said, when contacted this week, that adding five-star suites
would be expensive and there was limited demand for such a level of
accommodation.

The council had been prepared to offer financial incentives to turn the
former Dunedin chief post office in the Exchange into a hotel.

He hoped if a similar offer was made, perhaps of an interest-free loan,
the Southern Cross Hotel could provide five-star suites.

He had written to Mayor Sukhi Turner and councillors asking if there
was any interest in his proposal, but he had not received a response.

The council decided at its Monday meeting to grant the Southern Cross Hotel 25% rates relief on the three
floors of the Exchange wing being converted into four-star hotel rooms, for the three years after the
development was completed.

The rates relief, which totalled $7600 over the three years, was dependent on 10 extra jobs being created.

Scenic Circle Hotels director Stuart McLauch-lan, of Dunedin, said the additional 37 rooms would open in
October, bringing the hotel room total to 178.

He believed the extra rooms would go a "fair way" towards satisfying the council's desire to see more
high-quality hotel rooms.

Skyline Enterprises' upgrade of its Leisure Lodge hotel also attracted rates relief.

The council approved 75% rates relief on the Duke St facility for two years, which would total about
$51,600.

The expansion of New Zealand Moulding Company Ltd's Mosgiel plant meant the company was granted
rates relief totalling about $67,684 over three years and eight months.

The 75% rates relief was for the eight months of development, and then the next three years, and was
conditional on the creation of at least 15 jobs.

Viewing complaints 

By Fiona Hill

Two members of the Ombudsman's office will visit Dunedin to hear complaints from people who believe
they have been unfairly treated by central or local government agencies.

Investigating officers John Haynes and John Couch-Lewis will be at the Citizens Advice Bureau in Moray Pl
from 9am to 4pm on August 15, a statement from the office says.

The men, who will report directly to the Chief Ombudsman, Sir Brian Elwood, will decide whether the cases
brought to them can be resolved without the need for a formal investigation.

"They may also decide to inspect the situation first-hand and discuss the problem with all those concerned."

Appointments are not essential but can be made by ringing the Christchurch office on 0800 802 602.

Contest focus on senior citizens 

By Marjorie Cook

Positive aspects of older peoples' lives will be captured on film in a photographic competition being run by
Age Concern in Dunedin. 

Age Concern co-ordinator Maree Turnbull said entries in three categories (under 20, 20 and over, and over
60) would close on September 13. 

Otago Daily Times illustrations editorStephen Jaquiery will judge the photographs and prizes totalling $1000
will be awarded at a special function in October, coinciding with Age on the Go Week. 

A selection of photographs will be exhibited in the Octagon Club following judging. 

"We don't necessarily expect photographs of older people doing daredevil activities. Even photographs of
people doing mundane things can show the spirit and personality of senior citizens," Ms Turnbull said.

Photographs can be black-and-white or colour. Entry is free and more than one entry can be made.

Award to Otago student 

                           Staff Reporter

                           A University of Otago commerce student has been awarded the Te
                           Runanga o Ngai Tahu Property Scholarship.

                           Shannon Goldsmith, from Invercargill, received the award, which is
                           presented annually.

                           The scholarship is given to a young Ngai Tahu who shows potential to
                           contribute in the field of property.

                           Mr Goldsmith will attend Lincoln University next year to undertake a
                           degree in valuation and property management. The award will provide
                           him with financial assistance, as well as holiday employment and long-
                           term employment prospects.

                           "The scholarship offers me a great opportunity to explore the potential of
                           applying business studies within a Maori corporate context," he said.

Response sought on aquatic centre plan 

By Fiona Hill

Submissions have been called for on the Otago University Students Association's plan to build a new aquatic
centre next to the Otago Harbour.

The association wants new premises to house the rowing club and the kayak club, and to accommodate
growing numbers of student windsurfers since the rowing club's former boat shed in Magnet St was
destroyed by fire last November.

The association wants to construct a larger building on a site about 65m east of the Otago Boys High School
rowing shed, on an unoccupied Dunedin City Council reserve site in the upper harbour.

According to the resource consent application lodged with the council, the $950,000 centre would
accommodate boat storage, six showers and four toilets, while a smaller upper level, of about 350sq m, would
house a meeting and social area available for use by many other student groups.

The centre was planned to be sited on leased council land. Submissions are also being called for by the
council regarding a proposed lease which councillors have supported in principle.

Submissions on the resource consent application close next Friday.

Vote to ban chemical 

By Dave Smith

Cromwell: The summerfruit industry took the first step towards striking a chemical from its official spray list
during the Summerfruit New Zealand annual meeting in Cromwell yesterday.

Members of Summerfruit NZ voted overwhelmingly to stop using the chemical under the trade name of Stop
Drop on its apricots.

The chemical contains 2.4.D and has been used by some orchardists on the early stages of apricot growth.

Hawkes Bay orchardist Barry Jones said 19 of 21 responses in a poll of 45 growers in his region supported
stopping use of the chemical. 

"If consumers found out we were being irresponsible in applying a product with 2.4.D then we would not sell
another apricot," Mr Jones said.

Chairman Ken Graham stressed the deletion of the chemical only applied to the summerfruit industry and not
the citrus industry.

After the growers voted 39-19 in favour of not using the chemical, Mr Graham said the it would have to be
formally deregistered.

Skifield thefts spark warning against
                             complacency 

Staff Reporter 

Police are warning snow lovers to drop the "she'll be right" attitude, after the theft of $18,000 of ski and
snowboard gear this week.

Because Queenstown was a town with relatively little crime, people became complacent and did not take
reasonable precautions to protect their belongings, Sergeant Frank Wielemaker said in an interview
yesterday. 

"Therefore, when the opportunists arrive in town they become easy pickings."

At the Coronet Peak Ski Area, a pair of 177cm Solomon skis worth $500 were stolen from a circular ski
rack on Thursday, while the owner, an Australian tourist, bought a ski pass from the ticket office.

A $2800 Burton snowboard, owned by a Japanese tourist, was stolen from the ski area's deck the same day.

About $1000 of snowboard gear was stolen from a locked Mitsubishi rental car at The Remarkables Ski
Area car park on Thursday. Among the stolen items were a pair of black Ocean and Earth ski pants, Burton
snowboard boots, Oakley goggles, Arnet sunglasses and Ocean and Earth mittens.

A Swiss tourist reported her Black Jack Wolfskin day-pack stolen from The Remarkables' cafe. The pack
contained a Fuji Fotonet camera, Oakley sunglasses, Oakley goggles and a Billabong jersey, worth a total of
$1180.

Southern trails being mapped for walking 

By Dave Smith

Geoff Chapple might be based in Auckland, but he has the largest office in the
land.

This week, the Aucklander, former deputy editor of the Listener and executive
officer of Te Araroa Trust (long pathway), stopped in Wanaka during a
walking and driving journey which is taking him the length of the South Island.

Te Araroa Trust was established in the mid-1990s and in 1997 Mr Chapple left
his job at the Listener to pursue a vision to help create a walkway the length of
New Zealand.

His mission, which he readily accepted, was to map a walkway encompassing
some of the country's scenic routes.

A walkway down the North Island has been completed and now Mr Chapple
(55) has set his sights on the South Island.

"We see Te Araroa as a leisurely exploration of New Zealand's character - the
bush, farmed and cultivated countryside, coast and interior mountains and
rivers."

He said the longest (North Island) trail was a seven-day walk, but all trails
linked townships down the islands.

Financial help has come from the Hillary Commission and last year the trust was selected as a millennium
project and attracted $100,000 in sponsorship.

By the time the national project was completed, he estimated there would be about 2000km of trails taking
walkers from the tip of the North Island to the bottom of the South.

He said the distance put the project just short of the famous Appalachian Trail in North America which was
used by millions of people each year.

Mr Chapple said there would be several alpine crossings in the South Island, but the trail would largely follow
the low alpine spine of the Southern Alps.

"We aim the trails at the novice to intermediate walker. Everybody could walk all the trails if they have the
time - it is definitely not a high-altitude experience, but an easy to moderate outdoor experience."

All the trails mapped to date have been done in consultation with the landowners, Department of
Conservation, local authorities and local tramping clubs.

Once the South Island route has been mapped, he said the draft concept would be posted on the trust's web
site (www.teararoa.or g.nz) for comment.

He happily described his office as the length of New Zealand with views of some of the best scenery in the
world.

"It is a great job, but small wages," he said as he headed off to investigate another trail.

Submissions set record 

By Dylan Thorne

The Gore District Council has received a record number of submissions on the sports complex proposed for
Wayland Park.

The submissions were part of a consultative process initiated by the council to inform the general public
about the proposal.

A series of issues papers was made available to the public in June.

The papers covered five concerns: the timing of construction, the design and layout of the complex, funding,
effects of the development and council borrowings. 

People were able to make submissions on what they wanted to see included in the complex and the effects it
may have on the area.

Gore District Council chief executive Owen Pickles said the council had received 49 submissions; of those,
five had requested speaking rights.

He said the total number of submissions was more than the council had received on any issue in the past and
the majority were in favour of the proposal.

Mr Pickles said the council would hold a special meeting on August 17 to hear the submissions and council
would make a decision as to whether to proceed with the project. 

Plans for the complex included an Olympic-size short course ice skating rink, a pool complex, including a
25m pool with eight lanes, a spa pool, leisure pool and a hydro-therapy pool and a stadium and events centre.

The council had set aside $1.075 million in its long-term funding strategy for its contribution to the $6.5 million
complex.

Housemaster discharged on assault charge 

An Otago Boys High School housemaster who prodded a 14-year-old boarder in the
back with a screwdriver to illustrate the potential danger of the boy's actions has been
discharged without conviction on a charge of common assault.

Adain Dwayne Summerfield (27) admitted the offence at his appearance before Judge Gary MacAskill in
the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Granting the discharge, the judge "absolutely adopted" defence counsel Stephen O'Driscoll's submissions.

The judge referred to the offence as "very minor of its type" and said he thought the complainant's statement
in the victim impact report was "exaggerated".

He had "no doubt" Summerfield was of "previously impeccable character" and the offence was "a
momentary lapse in judgement". A conviction would be "totally disproportionate".

Prosecutor Constable David Pyper said the offence happened when Summerfield, a physical education
student, was working a rostered shift as a housemaster at a third-form dormitory.

About 9.30pm on an evening between April 26 and May 5, he discovered the complainant poking a
screwdriver through the wall, possibly endangering a boy on the other side. 

When he pointed out the potential danger, the complainant's response was to pick up an even larger
screwdriver and poke it through the wall. 

Summerfield then grabbed the screwdriver from the complainant and jabbed its pointed end into his back, just
below the shoulder blade. Although the skin was not broken, a bruise was still evident some days later.

Summerfield continued on his rounds. The boy complained loudly, saying he was going to "have him" for
assault. 

Summerfield returned and placed his finger on the boy's face, on the jaw in front of the ear, and applied a
moderate amount of pressure, Const Pyper said.

Spoken to some weeks later, when the incident was reported to police, Summerfield said he believed the
incident with the screwdriver warranted action. However, he accepted what he did was out of line. If the
same thing happened again, he would confiscate the screwdrivers and refer the matter to the house
manager. 

He could not recall the "finger on the cheek" incident but said he had done something similar to other boys, in
play. 

Mr O'Driscoll submitted the complainant and another boy had been spitting through a hole in the wall.
Summerfield asked them to cover the hole with tape. The complainant instead picked up a screwdriver and
poked it through the hole. 

Summerfield told the complainant that was stupid. The second boy's eyes, mouth or hand could be on the
other side. The complainant then poked a larger screwdriver through the hole.

At that point, Summerfield "prodded" the complainant to demonstrate the potential danger to the other boy. 

Concerning the "finger on the cheek" allegation, Mr O'Driscoll said: "The defendant says that did not happen.
He had been involved in that type of playing before but not on the night".

The charge was laid under the Summary Offences Act, not the Crimes Act, Mr O'Driscoll submitted. Police
originally indicated diversion would be appropriate. However, the complainant's father did not agree.

It was not until three weeks after the incident that a complaint was made to the police. Because of
involvement in a bullying episode in which a third former was "nuggeted", the complainant was stood down
from playing rugby. It was then that his father became aware of the alleged assault. He remonstrated with
the school when his son was not allowed to play rugby and the complaint of assault was made. 

Asking that Summerfield be discharged, Mr O'Driscoll said the defendant acknowledged what he did was
wrong and he had learned a valuable lesson. 

It was an isolated incident. Summerfield had no previous convictions and was not trying to hide behind the
matter by asking for name suppression, Mr O'Driscoll said. 

Although discharged, Summerfield is to pay $130 towards the cost of prosecution.

Man jailed for assault outside
                                 hotel 

A young man has been jailed for two years for fracturing a man's skull by jumping on
his head as he lay unconscious on the ground outside a Roxburgh Hotel. 

The incident occurred during a confrontation outside the hotel early on March 12 when the complainants,
Phillip Parker and Evan Donaldson, went outside to investigate the throwing of a bottle at one of the hotel
windows. 

Both men were "king hit" by 19-year-old Aaran Edward Hura, presser, who then jumped on Mr Parker's
head and face, causing serious injuries. 

As a result of the incident, Hura faced charges of assaulting both men and intentionally injuring Mr Parker.
He was found guilty by a jury in the Dunedin District Court last week and appeared for sentence yesterday. 

Judge John Macdonald said he accepted Hura's actions on the night might have been out of character, as
submitted by defence counsel Derek Russell. But the effect was that Mr Parker's life would probably never
be the same. His skull had been fractured from the base to the forehead, and he still suffered the effects of
that and other injuries. 

The other victim, Mr Donaldson, was not so severely injured but was concussed, required several stitches to
cuts on his head, and spent a night in hospital with severe bruising. 

Mr Russell described Hura as "a decent young man who's got himself involved in serious offending". 

He put before the court letters and references testifying to Hura's potential, and the regard in which he was
held as a good and honest worker, who was fortunate enough to have a very supportive family. Hura was
not a violent person by nature and did not normally drink heavily, Mr Russell said. 

Crown counsel Robin Bates said the incident might have been out of character for Hura but the violence
was unprovoked and serious and continued to have "significant effects" on Mr Parker. The offending
warranted a prison term of at least two years, Mr Bates said. 

Judge Macdonald accepted Hura was ordinarily a decent young man, but the court had to deal with the
matter in terms of certain legal constraints, as Mr Russell had acknowledged. The violence was serious and
prison was mandatory unless there were special circumstances. 

He was not persuaded there were circumstances justifying a sentence short of imprisonment and neither
was he persuaded he could suspend the term which was appropriate for the injuring offence, Judge
Macdonald said. 

But he granted Hura leave to apply for home detention. Concurrent prison terms of six months were imposed
on each of the assaults.

Dunedin District Court 

Indecency offences spanning 33 years and affecting three generations, resulted in two years' jail for a man
sentenced by Judge Gary MacAskill in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Marcus David Wilson (62), unemployed, had admitted indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl on January 4
last year; attempted indecent assault of a girl aged 12-13 between January 1, 1993 and December 31 that
year; indecently assaulting a woman aged 34-35 between January 1, 1983 and December 31 that year;
indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl between April 20, 1980 and April 19, 1981; indecently assaulting the
same girl between April 20, 1981 and April 23, 1983; and indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl between
December 12, 1966 and December 11, 1967.

The charges related to five complainants, with the offending happening locally and at other Otago locations.

Counsel Bernadette Farnan submitted the case was "a tragedy for everyone involved". Subjected to sexual
abuse during his upbringing, Wilson carried on the abuse. He had been married for 38 years and had three
grown children. But there was no suggestion he ever abused them. 

The offending was at the lower end of the scale. None of the charges, in isolation, would bring a full-time
custodial sentence.

Wilson felt very strong shame, humiliation and sorrow. There had been no offending since the 1999 incident.
To keep himself and others safe, Wilson was having therapy and taking medication.

Crown counsel Robin Bates said because of the number of offences, and period over which they occurred,
the appropriate sentence was imprisonment. The probation officer's recommendation was for imprisonment
and full participation in Rolleston Prison's Kia Marama programme for sex offenders.

"Various voluntary attempts at rehabilitation have been unsuccessful. There has been significant harm to
three generations," Mr Bates told the court. "A comment in the victim impact report is `this man needs to be
stopped'."

Judge MacAskill said the dramatic effect of Wilson's offending could not be regarded as anything less than
serious.

"The consequences remain with the victims."

Imposing imprisonment, he said Wilson should complete the Kia Marama programme. Unless he did, he
would remain at risk of reoffending.

JAIL TERM

Mervyn David Adams (36), unemployed, was jailed for four months and disqualified from driving for two
years on a charge of driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 832mcg. He was also ordered to have no
interest in a motor vehicle for 12 months.

A concurrent jail term of two months was imposed on Adams a charge of assaulting a female. For breaching
his court bail, Adams was convicted and discharged.

He earlier admitted the offences.

WILFUL DAMAGE

Despite the disadvantages she suffered, the defendant had to learn wilful damage was an unacceptable
response to situations she found not to her liking, Judge MacAskill said jailing Jan Edna McKenzie (33),
beneficiary. McKenzie, under a "final warning" for wilful damage, had admitted intentionally damaging a
leadlight window at Dunedin Hospital.

The offence happened at emergency psychiatric services about 9.30pm on July 22. After being spoken to by
staff in the reception area, McKenzie threw a coffee mug at a leadlight, smashing it, prosecutor Constable
David Pyper said.

McKenzie was convicted, sentenced to one month's jail, and ordered to pay reparation of $158.74.

STOLE CASH

While helping his mother clean the Taieri Bowling Club early on June 22 and again on July 13, Kenneth
David Mack (18), unemployed, picked the lock on a fees box and stole cash, Const Pyper said.

Mack took more than $280 in coins on the first occasion and $75 the second time.

About midnight on July 21, he was near the bowling club rooms and broke in, smashing a window to do so,
before picking the lock on the fees box and stealing two $20 notes.

Mack admitted the two thefts and the burglary, as well as the unrelated theft of a cellphone from business
premises in Hope St, on July 5. He took the phone from the unattended reception area and used it to make
several phone calls before the battery ran out.

On each of the four charges, Mack was convicted and remanded for sentence on August 21.

DISQUALIFIED DRIVER

After submissions from counsel Steve Turner, Gregory Allan Hill (41), casual part-time worker, was
sentenced to community service instead of being further disqualified from driving.

He had admitted driving while disqualified, on Signal Hill Rd on July 14.

Mr Turner said Hill was driving home from work at 2.05am when stopped at a random check point. He was
co-operative with police. There was no driving fault and he had not been drinking.

Hill could be called to work at any time of the day or night. On a limited income, he found taxis expensive.
He also had health problems. His driving ban was due to end next month.

Judge MacAskill imposed 150 hours' community service and ordered confiscation of Hill's 1981 Mitsubishi
vehicle.

REFUSED BLOOD SPECIMEN

Faleono Tupu (50), storeman, refusing to permit the taking of a specimen of his blood, at Dunedin on July 1,
convicted, ordered to carry out 120 hours' community service and pay court costs $130, disqualified from
driving for two years, and indefinitely.

DRINK-DRIVING

Adrian True (18), student, driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of 873mcg, on Princes St, on July 9,
convicted, ordered to carry out 75 hours' community service, disqualified from driving for six months.

Roderick Foster McGregor (48), employed, of Mosgiel, driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of
894mcg, at Mosgiel, on June 8, convicted, fined $900, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for nine
months. He had one previous drink-drive conviction.

Man jailed for bid to get witness to change
                                 evidence 

A Christchurch man convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice had never
intended intimidating the victim of an assault, counsel for Gareth Robert Ferguson (28)
said yesterday.

Ferguson, unemployed, was before Judge John Macdonald in the Dunedin District Court for sentence
following his trial last week. 

He had denied trying to persuade Aaron Sharma to retract his statement against Trevor Clarke, the person
charged with assaulting Mr Sharma on December 17. Like Clarke, Ferguson is heavily tattooed on his
shaven head and face. 

Mr Sharma's evidence last week was that when Ferguson spoke to him in his shop on February 21, he said it
was he, not Clarke, who had assaulted him [Mr Sharma] and if the complainant did not retract his statement,
he would be "back to see him".

In submissions yesterday, defence counsel John Westgate said Ferguson still denied saying what Mr Sharma
alleged but accepted he should not have gone to the shop. 

And while Ferguson accepted he looked threatening because of his shaven head and tattoos, there was no
direct violence to Mr Sharma.

Mr Westgate said, having just turned 28, Ferguson was "at the cross roads". He had been to prison several
times and knew if he continued to associate with certain people he would spend a lot more time there. 

Crown counsel Bill Wright said he suspected that, like a lot of young men, Ferguson did not appreciate the
significance of some of his tattoos or how offensive they were to many people. He commended the courage
of Mr Sharma in giving evidence. Any interference with the course of justice was always of concern, he
said. 

Judge Macdonald said the situation had been "particularly intimidating" for Mr Sharma, particularly as he had
been assaulted quite badly by Clarke. The complainant appeared a frail and thoughtful victim, the judge said,
voicing the suspicion that Ferguson chose to defend the charge because he hoped Mr Sharma would not
come to court. 

Ferguson had committed the offence almost immediately after being released from prison and the difficulty
was he had been imprisoned so often it had probably become a meaningless sentence, Judge Macdonald
said. But there was no alternative to a jail term. 

On the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, Ferguson was sentenced to 15 months' jail, with
concurrent sentences of two months on charges of breaching bail and unlawfully possessing a prescription
medicine. For fighting in a public place, he was convicted and discharged.

Chance to feed off more affluent China 

By Neal Wallace 

Otago educational institutions and businesses should target the emerging Chinese middle class, which is
growing at 3.7% a year.

City business and education leaders were told at an Asia 2000 national business seminar in Dunedin
yesterday 3.8 million Chinese a year were becoming white-collar workers and enjoying higher incomes.

Dr Clint Laurent, a director of Asian Demographics, based in Auckland but with extensive dealings in China,
told the seminar that in hand with more affluence, Chinese parents were placing an emphasis on educating
their children.

Education was the key to the country becoming one of the biggest consumer markets in the world, he said.

Later in the seminar the speakers, who have all had extensive dealings in China, stressed the opportunities
the emphasis on education could provide Otago.

Dr Laurent said it was a highly competitive market but Dunedin offered a cheap, compact, safe city with a
clean environment.

However, it had to be marketed correctly and differentiated from other competing educational institutions
from throughout the world. The Chinese Government's one-child policy meant the number of emerging
school-age people was falling.

Luke Minford, a Shanghai-based lawyer with the London firm, Rouse and Co, and a graduate of the
University of Otago, said there were untapped educational markets such as offering short-term specialist
courses to China-based multinational firms looking to improve the skills of their workers.

River levels lowest in seven
     years, regional council says 

By Blair Mayston

North Otago was starved of rain last month, resulting in some of the lowest river levels in seven years.

However, the Otago Regional Council believes it is too early to tell whether local farmers, burdened by
drought in three of the past four years, should prepare for another.

Council figures for rainfall and river flow in July, released yesterday, show the Kakanui River flow was at a
seven-year low, about 75% below normal for the time of year.

The Shag River flow was about a quarter of its usual July level.

North Otago rainfall was up to 75% below normal, and temperatures were nearly a degree higher than usual.

Technical services director Darryl Lew said yesterday there was little prospect of immediate relief for the
area's rivers, with rainfall during the next three months likely to be average to below average.

But Mr Lew said it was too early to say whether Otago's farmers should expect another drought.

The Southern Oscillation, which comprised the El Nino and La Nina weather patterns, was in a neutral
phase. El Nino and La Nina generally brought more extreme conditions, and both were capable of producing
a drought. 

It was "not uncommon" for the oscillation to remain in a neutral phase during which a drought was possible
but less likely. The oscillation generally decided what it would do during winter and the next two months
would be critical as to which way the climate pendulum would swing.

"Then we'll know what the Southern Oscillation is going to do for the summer, and that's what everyone's
holding their breath for at the moment."

Elsewhere in the region, the Taieri River flow at Outram was about half its July average, with the flows
further upstream at Sutton and Tiroiti being 30% and 10% below average respectively.

Rainfall in the lower Taieri, Strath Taieri and Dunedin area was below average, with Dunedin rainfall 63%
below normal.

While eastern and northern Otago has been dry, there has been plenty of rain in the headwaters of the
southern lakes, resulting in the Clutha River running about 25% above its July average.

News Digest
A near miss
Miss Otago Josie Tweed was judged runner-up in this year's Miss New Zealand, contest, 
although there was no show.
The 19-year-old student was auditioned last week along with the other six contestants but 
organisers said there were too few to hold a public show this year.
Student Toni Peachey (23) was awarded the crown and will represent New Zealand at the 
Miss Universe contest in May.
Josie Tweed
Touching mail
MPs will receive some of their most incomprehensible mail ever this week – letters in 
Braille.
The letters will be sent by the Association of Blind Citizens to launch its Equal Access to 
State Information campaign.
Association president Jonathon Mosen said it was trying to give MPs a taste of how it felt 
when important information was made available in a form unsuitable for the recipient.

Antarctic blast expected today
Staff reporter

Snow is possible on the foothills of Otago and South Canterbury today as a blast of cold 
air, described by the Met Service as coming straight off the Antarctic, passes across the 
country.
Met Service weather spokesman Bob McDavitt said in a statement the weather in the 
Southern Ocean had been "knocked out of kilter" and the southerly airflow was expected 
to affect  much of New Zealand until about Wednesday.
He advised travellers to allow for the cold snap and expect delays on the roads in Otago 
and Canterbury today and further north tomorrow.
"This event will not be as chilling as the polar blasts we get in winter but will remind us 
that we sometimes do get out winds from the deep south," he said.
The timing of the cold snap coincides with the last official week of summer.

Skateboarders air their expertise on the edge
Paul Hurley (22) shows his style before an appreciative crowd at the Mornington skating 
park on Saturday. He was competing in the open section of the Otago regional skating 
competition, which was entered by about 50 skaters.

Batteries replaced
By Craig Page

The Fire Service is replacing smoke alarm batteries in the Dunedin homes of elderly and 
frail people free of charge, thanks to sponsorship from a local Rotary club.
Deputy chief fire officer Lindsay Heal said the Rotary Club of Dunedin East had 
provided about 500 batteries for installation throughout the city. Elderly or frail people 
could contact their local paid fire station and ask for a battery, he said.
Mr Heal said firefighters were also available for advice on the installation of smoke 
alarms.

Flames billow from the front of a Lees St house on Saturday morning. The front bedroom 
of the house at 17 Lees St was destroyed by fire. No-one was home at the time the fire 
broke out, about 4pm. Senior Station Officer Bob Calder said there was extensive smoke 
damage to the remainder of the house and three fire appliances were called to the scene.

Celtic convergence ... Father Brian Doherty plays St Patrick in yesterday's 
George St float procession, which
signalled the start of Dunedin's inaugural, week-long Irish festival.
Dublin drizzle for Irish festival

By Simon Hartley

Dunedin drizzle offered an authentic rendition of a damp Dublin day 
yesterday, but for hundreds of Irish descendants it
was not a problem because it was "Carta go leoir annseo", Gaelic for "It's 
all right here".
For Mike Ryan, Dunedin Irish Arts' co-organiser of the city's inaugural, 
week-long Guinness Dunedin Fleadh [festival], the rain was reminiscent of hometown 
Dublin.
"Of course, when we get rain it's non-stop for four days . . . but it's all just part of the 
craic [fun]," he quipped.
 The dampness did not deter the more than 500 people who turned out in the Octagon at 
noon to welcome 
12 Irish-themed floats, followed by
almost three hours of Irish dance and music.
Mayor Sukhi Turner opened the event, stressing the festival was historic 
not only for the city but for its recognition of
the Celtic people who had made Dunedin home.
Mr Ryan estimated about 7% of Dunedin people were of Irish descent and he 
hoped the new Dunedin Irish Arts group
could build up the festival with the help of a recently signed three-year 
sponsorship deal with Guinness.
The arts group had joined the Ireland-based Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann organisation, 
which has established 400 world-wide branches 
to support Irish festivals and culture.
Each day until Friday 17, St Patrick's Day, will feature entertainment by 
different Irish bands and performers in the
Octagon from noon to 2pm.
The festival culminates on Friday with a performance at the Super 12 
Highlanders and Cats clash at Carisbrook, including pre- and post-match Octagon 
performances.
Pre-judging of the five finalists for Otago's Rose of Traleee was due to 
begin last night and would be announced at a "hooley" at Dicey O'Rileys in High St 
tonight, Mr Ryan said. 

Crowds again flock to Upper Clutha show
 
By Dave Smith 
Wanaka

The show that attracts more entries and exhibitors each year drew more than 7000 people 
to the Upper Clutha
A and P Show at the weekend.
Hot, overcast conditions were cooled occasionally by a light lake breeze as people 
wandered around the more
than 170 trade exhibits, stopping to check the grand champions and champions in the 
stock sections or sitting and watching more than 250 horses
vie for the top titles.
Although there were fewer
entries in the popular Jack
Russell race, the enthusiasm of
the dogs was not diminished as
they raced around the centre
ring, to the amusement of the
crowd.
 The grand parade was led by
the Alexandra Pipe Band, with
proud horse riders displaying
their championship ribbons
while the harness section trotted around the centre ring.
 Guest speaker, television
and radio presenter Dougal
Stevenson, recalled his childhood years growing up in the area when his father farmed at 
the top of Lake Wanaka.
 "This, and you do not need
telling, is the most wonderful
part of the country," he said.
 Australian sheep judges Jock
MacRae and Malcolm Cox were
impressed by the high quality
of the fine wool merino breeds
on show while photography judge Stephen Jaquiery commented on the quality of prints.

This pet, which unusually has no name, won Abbi Ayre (6), from Hawea, first place at 
the Upper Clutha A and P Show at Wanaka in the most unusual pet competition.

Rider and pony step out in style

By Dave Smith

With the prospect of stepping up to hack class next year, Clydevale rider 
Zoe Shore performed at the Upper Clutha A and P Show in style at the weekend, winning 
a grand champion ribbon.
The 16-year-old St Hildas Collegiate Form 6 pupil, pictured at left with 
Dragonwyck Night Call, said horses had
always been a part of her life.
Boarding in Dunedin has meant riding and training could only take place 
at the weekends during visits home.
Her two horses are Cassidy, in his mid-20s, and Dragonwyck Night Call.
"Cassidy will retire this year, to the farm. He has earned it."
Her exit from the pony ranks was done in style after she secured the grand champion 
ribbon, champion A pony and
champion best-mannered and paced on Dragonwyck.
It was Zoe's fourth grand champion ribbon at the show, which she said was 
one of the best in which to compete.
She has a couple of horses to choose from and was looking forward to stepping up to the 
hack class next season, despite not having competed on a bigger horse.
Zoe said she had no real ambitions for the future other than enjoying her sport.

Doc set to abandon many huts in South Canterbury back-country

South  Canterbury 

Timaru: Hunters and trampers are disappointed that little has changed 
regarding the Department of Conservation's proposal to abandon many of South 
Canterbury's back-country huts.
About 50 people attended a public meeting held last week by the 
department in Timaru to discuss management of
the region's huts and tracks.
Concerned Recreation Action Group of South Canterbury spokesman George 
Hunter said the department still
intended to walk away from about 90% of the region's huts under its 
draft visitor access management plan. The group wanted all huts and tracks kept under 
department management.
"It still appears that they are putting money where the tourist dollar is 
and have ignored our wishes," he said.
It was disappointing the department was disregarding the Government's 
plans to protect recreation, he said.
Department recreational planner John Bos, of Christchurch, said it would 
be five to 10 years before any huts would need replacing, even if no maintenance was 
done. That would give time for alternative management strategies to be developed.
"Some groups are quite
willing to use a hut and to take over its management. We are inviting 
people to do this."
People had about six weeks to consider the document before further 
meetings would be held, Mr Bos said.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has launched Labour's conservation and 
environment policies, saying too many back-country and alpine tracks and huts had fallen 
victim to Doc's lack of 
funding.
"Labour will urgently review their condition with a view to restoring as 
many as possible to a state which ensures safe access to the back-country." – NZPA

Harbour takes on Victorian air

Beside the seaside … Kahren Thompson (left), in her Victorian ladies' bathing suit, and 
Gordon Pringle, with his nautical costume and patriotic canoe, at the traditional boat day 
on Oamaru's harbour yesterday.

Oamaru
By David Bruce
Mucking about in boats took on a whole new meaning at the traditional boats 
day in the Oamaru harbour yesterday.
Traditional craft, ranging from a canoe painted with a New Zealand flag to 
a vintage fishing boat, created a Victorian atmosphere at the harbour.
Tents with barbecues, Victorian garb and old Seagull motors puttering among 
rowers created an unusual sight.
About 20 boats of different sizes and origins, including some brought from 
Dunedin, took part in races and a picnic
day.
The first races of the day were for the Seagulls - boats powered by small 
outboard motors - and the rowing events
were next.
In traditional Victorian fashion, the barbecue lunch of seafoods stretched 
for two hours, followed by a parade of
Victorian bathing costumes.
The event was a big attraction for tourists on steam train trips from 
Oamaru's historic precinct to the harbour.

92 salmon caught in contest

Central South Island Fish and Game Council officer Graeme Hughes (right) cleans the 
4.998kg salmon landed yesterday by Andy Jamieson (left), of Dunedin.

Waitaki River

By David Bruce
Oamaru: Salmon were hard to come by during the four-day Waitaki River 
salmon-fishing contest - but one man did
not mind.
Central South Island Fish and Game Council officer Graeme Hughes was the 
official scrutineer for all the salmon
weighed in during the four-day contest, which started on Thursday.
That involved cleaning the fish landed and weighed - in his case, 90 of 
the 92 salmon, along with a large number of trout.
Included in his duties was cleaning the 7.636kg salmon landed by Sandy 
Gregory, of Moeraki, which won the $5000
first prize.
Mr Gregory had to survive yesterday's weigh-in, which finished at 3pm, to 
confirm the fish had won.
The top five fish, including the heaviest landed by a woman - a 5.918kg salmon caught 
by Lynley Brooker (Oamaru) - were all 
taken on Saturday.
This year, 92 salmon were weighed in, compared with 163 last year and a 
huge 569 in 1996.
The weights were also well down with last year's winning fish just over 11kg, while 14kg 
won in 1997.
Mr Hughes put that down to a lack of food for salmon over the past two 
years, possibly caused by the El Nina
conditions.
"That is one phase which is out of our control," he said.
A combination of munida (krill) being further out to sea and more 
predators coming closer in to the shore might be
behind the reduction in the size of the salmon and the numbers, he 
suggested.
This year, there were 375 contestants, compared to 557 last year, 
possibly because of
the poor salmon season.
The second heaviest salmon was taken by Evan Marshall (Duveauchelles) 
with 6.308kg and third was George
Hewison (Christchurch) with 5.994kg.
Matthew  Suppinger
(Christchurch) won the heaviest trout prize with a 2.214kg fish.

News Digest
Concert partner
Sharebroking firm Forsyth Barr is sponsoring a series of daily lunchtime concerts as its 
contribution to the Otago Festival of the Arts in October.	
Details – p4
No-smoking award
Prime Minister Helen Clark was recognised for her anti-smoking work yesterday, when 
she was named winner of the inaugural President's Award of the Thoracic Society of 
Australia and New Zealand. The award aims to highlight the importance of tobacco 
control in preventing disease.
It recognises Ms Clark's work towards tobacco control legislation, and, as health 
minister, her introduction of the Smokefree Environments Act in 1990.
Airline stake
The Government has consented to Singapore Airlines buying 8.3% of Air New Zealand.
The Kiwi shareholder had consented to Singapore Airlines acquiring not more than 8.3% 
of Air New Zealand, in B shares, Transport Minister Mark Gosche said. Unlike A shares, 
the B shares can be owned by foreigners.
No individual foreign airlines is allowed to own more than 25% of Air New Zealand, a 
group of offshore airlines can own no more than 35% and foreigners, as a whole, are 
limited to 49% ownership.
Quick Quiz
1.	Dunedin's Tanner and Burma Rds run alongside which public reserve?
2.	Which two countries were involved in the "Anschluss" of 1938?
3.	Which Asian fruit does the Concise Oxford Dictionary describe as "luscious but 
evil-smelling"?
4.	Which Manawatu township is not actually named after the famous Irish river, but 
after a director of the local railway company?
5.	How far from the goal lone is the penalty spot on a normal soccer field?
Answers – p2

Award winner 'just Maria'

By Salle Rae

Maria Dickie relaxes at home with her cat, Sprocket.

Oamaru: When Maria Dickie heard she was receiving a national award for courage, her 
initial reaction was she did not deserve it.
Despite surviving burns to more than 65% of her body in a horrific farm explosion in the 
United States in 1998, Mrs Dickie (27), of Oamaru, does not think she is special.
"I'm just Maria. I didn't think I'd done anything brave. Bravery was saving other 
people," she said.
In fact, Mrs Dickie believes the Girl Guide Association of New Zealand award for 
courage should go to her husband, John, for his support after the accident.
Mrs Dickie, who is an Otago Lone Pippin leader, received the award at a camp at 
Waikouaiti recently. Courage awards are presented only occasionally.
The Dickies were on a farm training programme in North Dakota in 1998 when an lpg 
silo used for drying grain exploded. 
She was flown 800km to a burns unit in Minneapolis, where she stayed for 81 days.
Mrs Dickie has worn a plastic compression mask since then, taking it off only to eat, 
shower and do mouth exercises. She also has to wear a full body garment under her 
clothes. 
She is waiting for her skin to "mature" before any further surgery is done on her face.
"I'm leaving it as long as I can. The longer I leave it, the better results I'll have in the 
end," she said. Plastic surgery may be done around her mouth this year.
Continued on page 2

Staff protest as claim stalls

By Vivienne Paterson   Balclutha
Balclutha: PPCS has stopped supplying skins to its Windward Skins 
sheepskin plants at Finegand and Balclutha
after the breakdown of pay negotiations.
The 20 workers at the plants have been working to rule for a month after 
turning down a pay increase of 20c an hour, or $8 a week, which they claim still leaves 
them below what others in the 
industry in New Zealand are earning 
Yesterday they formed protest lines outside the Balclutha plant at lunch 
time and after work.
Otago-Southland Meat Workers Union president, Ted Gallagher, who is 
negotiating on behalf of the workers, said they had claimed an increase in the hourly rate 
from $9.34 to $10.50. 
This would have brought them into line with Finegand's lamb cuts workers but would 
still be less than the $12.50 that 
some others in the industry were earning.
PPCS would not negotiate, he said.
The staff had worked to rule until yesterday, when they decided unanimously to protest 
outside the Balclutha building.
Local union delegates Karen Hale and Steve Kinraid said they were 
determined to continue the action until PPCS showed a willingness to resume meaningful 
negotiations. At the moment, 
they are protesting only during meal breaks and after work.
The two delegates said they would not back down, even though PPCS had 
told them no more skins would be
delivered to the factories.
The processing part of the company, at Finegand, would have about two and 
a-half weeks' work left if the company
stopped the skin supply, Mr Kinraid said. The finishing department in 
Balclutha would have about two weeks afterthat.
But both Mr Kinraid and Mrs Hale said they were aware that orders for 
skins were still being taken and these orders could not be filled if there were no skins.
PPCS would not comment on the dispute yesterday.

Winward Skins union delegates Karen Hale and Steve Kinraid lead a protest outside the 
finishing department of the PPCS company in Balclutha yesterday.

Appeal against consent

Staff Reporter Frankton

Queenstown: Two developers are heading to court after Martyr Resources Ltd appealed a 
Queenstown-Lakes District Council decision
allowing Images Queenstown to build a $10 million expo complex next to 
the Frankton cemetery. Martyr
Resources, which is an associated company of Remarkables Park Ltd, lodged its appeal 
against the resource consent last week, 
lawyer Laurie Newhook confirmed
yesterday.
Images Queenstown, an Invercargill-based company, had hoped the 
audio-visual complex, based on New Zealand's pavilions at world expos, would be open 
by December.

IN BRIEF
Inquiries continuing
Oamaru Police have spoken to an 18-year-old Oamaru youth after a 
9-year-old was knocked over by a car on a pedestrian crossing at Usk St on Friday night.
The child was taken to Oamaru Hospital and discharged later that night  
Inquiries were continuing, Constable Alex Bondarenko reported yesterday.
Equipment stolen
Milton: Thieves forced a lock on a container at Gorton's Timber in Milton 
some time on Friday night or Saturday
morning and stole more than $3000 worth of equipment.
A single-phase Miller MIG welder. valued at $2950, and a Metaba grinder, 
worth $359, were stolen. Both were
engraved with the initials W. B . E.
A similar grinder, engraved with the name Peter Sinclair, was also stolen.
Discontent expected
Palmerston: Discontent with the Waitaki District Council's refusal to proceed with 
proposed upgrading of the
Palmerston town centre is expected to surface at a council  road show 
tomorrow night.
Councillors and staff will attend the meeting at the Palmerston Sports 
Hall at 7pm to explain the 2000-2001 annual plan.

Dump to be expanded

By Simon Hartley
Auckland Islands

The Department of Conservation has given the go ahead for an Auckland 
Island fuel dump to be expanded to include
fuel for the Dunedin-based Tranz Rail rescue helicopter.
Department of Conservation Southland conservancy manager Lou Sanson said 
an agreement had already been
reached for the expansion of the eight-year-old fuel dump on the remote 
Auckland Islands, about 240 nautical miles south of Bluff.
Mr Sanson said the existing fuel dump was in place for several 
Southland-based rescue helicopter operators to use.
Tranz Rail pilot Graeme Gale said negotiations were underway about use of 
the fuel dump. He saw its expansion
more as an "emergency stash" of fuel rather than a staging post for 
rescues further out to sea.

Drowned boy identified

Waimate
By Sally Rae

Oamaru: Police have released the name of the 14-year-old boy who drowned at 
the Waihao Box, on the South Canterbury coast, near Waimate, on Sunday.
Marek Lee Staats, of Waimate,
died after being trapped by moving shingle while trying to retrieve a gumboot. He and a 
13-year-old relative had been going fishing.
Marek attended Waitaki Boys High School last year and until early last month, when he 
transferred to Temuka High School.
Waitaki Boys High School deputy rector David Mellish said yesterday he was a 
"cheerful, happy fellow" and well-liked.
"He will be really missed."
Counselling would be available for any students who required it, Mr Mellish said.
The Waihao Box controlled the Waihao River when it banked up, allowing the 
river water to escape out to sea. It was
like a "man-made control gate", Waimate Mayor David Owen said yesterday.
It was regularly maintained, as it dealt with a large catchment of water, Mr Owen said.
L and M Mining to meet residents over concerns

Earnscleugh

By Dianne King
Earnscleugh: L and M Mining Ltd will meet Earnscleugh residents soon at a 
public meeting to discuss plans to mine
for gold in their district.
The company plans to mine about 260ha on the Earnscleugh Flats.
It already owns  most of the land.
Mining officials will also address a meeting of the Earnseceugh-Manuherikia 
Community Board tomorrow.
The company met a residents' committee last week and spokeswoman Sue 
Edwards said yesterday the format for
the public meeting would be settled this week.
It was likely to take the form of a slide presentation by the mining 
committee, followed by workshop groups to discuss the issues raised.
L and M's managing director, Evan Hughes, said from Christchurch yesterday company 
staff and consultants had made contact with various interest groups in 
the Earnscleugh area and their
comments and feedback to date had been valuable in its preparation of an 
environmental assessment.
Areas of concern identified so far related to dust, noise and the effect on 
the groundwater table.
A draft of the environmental assessment would be available next month, Mr 
Hughes said.
Negotiations were underway with other landowners to allow all the gold to 
be recovered from the resource.
Providing all the necessary consents were granted in time, the project 
development would start late next year and take about eight years to complete.

Saddle Hill report comes to light

Saddle Hill

By Marjorie Cook

A 1993 architect's report suggesting improvements to the Saddle Hill 
skyline has been dusted off and could help pave
the way to settling the vexed Jaffray's Quarry debate.
Jaffray's Quarry is on Saddle Hill farmland owned by Alan Scurr and his 
family. Fulton Hogan has held rights to
extract aggregate from the quarry since 1992.
There are public concerns that continued quarrying will compromise the 
Saddle Hill skyline.
Fulton Hogan commissioned the report from Alan Petrie in 1993. It is 
understood to suggest skyline improvements,
including back-filling an ugly scar and planting more native trees.
But some activists are miffed they had not known about the 1993 report 
until last week.
"I felt a little ruffled up about that report. It's been around for a 
while and no-one's had it," Saddle Hill
Protection  Group spokesman Tane Belsham said yesterday.
The Saddle Hill Community Board, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board and Crs Colin 
Weatherall, Syd Brown and
Maurice Prendergast are trying to assist ratepayers who want to close the 
quarry.
Various groups have lobbied since 1974 to protect the striking landmark.
Mr Belsham has said the group wanted the Dunedin City Council to help put 
the quarry in public ownership, find an
alternative quarry
site for Fulton Hogan, and compensate the Scurrs for loss of income.
All sides agree the debate is proceeding deliberately and amicably, with 
Mr Scurr indicating last week he was willing to discuss replanting, sale and compensation 
issues.
Fulton Hogan general manager Brian Warren was considering an Otago Daily 
Times request yesterday for a copy of
the report.
Mr Warren said it was a private report and that was why it had not been 
made available.

No suitable site found yet for weather station

Oamaru
By Sally Rae

Most of the sites suggested as possible locations for a weather station in 
Oamaru do not meet the requirements.
Summit Wools has stopped taking the weather readings but the Met Service 
has agreed to give the equipment to the
Waitaki District Council if a site and volunteer readers can be found
Yesterday, Mayor Duncan Taylor said he had received a few offers of 
assistance to help take the readings, which was
encouraging.
However, most of the sites suggested were not suitable because the 
equipment needed to be set back at least twice the height of any nearby obstacles. Trees 
were proving a problem, he said.
A fully automatic station had been suggested, but that did not solve the 
site issue. Mr Taylor wondered if the
automatic station at the Oamaru airport could be transferred to the town.
Contacted by the Otago Daily Times, Met Service's network operations 
manager, Gwenyth Hodgson said the station
would not be transferred.
"It's there for our purposes and it meets all our requirements," she said.
However, Met Service was "open" to establishing a new site in the town, 
she said.

Queenstown District Court

A 20-year-old man being sentenced on three assault charges was given a 
"final warning" in the Queenstown District
Court yesterday.
Richard Mark Cowan, scaffolder, of Queenstown, pleaded guilty last month 
to three charges of assault stemming from
an incident in Invercargill on February 12.
Judge John Strettell, of Invercargill, told the defendant he was riding a 
"very fine line". One victim of his drunken attack
suffered a fractured cheek bone, a broken nose and concussion. Two other 
victims suffered lesser injuries.
With the option of periodic detention not being available in Queenstown, 
Judge Strettell said he was left with either
allowing the defendant to stay in the community or a term of imprisonment.
The defendant was lucky to have the support of his family. It was time 
for him to make use of his skills, he said.
Cowan's lawyer Bruce Boivin said his client realised this was his last 
chance of remaining in the community.
On each of the charges, Cowan was convicted and fined $500, court costs 
$130, with $250 of each fine to the
complainants, ordered to pay reparation to one of the victims for a loss 
of glasses and two days wages, of $246.
Judge Strettell also sentenced Cowan to nine months' supervision on each 
of the charges, to be served concurrently.
DANGEROUS DRIVING
A Queenstown man who could not remember crashing head-on with a taxi, 
while driving with almost three times the
legal breath-alcohol limit, pleaded guilty to three charges.
Stephen Mark Cunliffe (34), labourer, admitted driving dangerously and 
driving with an excess breath alcohol level of
1191mcg on April 2, on Frankton Rd. He also pleaded guilty to a common 
assault charge arising from an incident at
Milford Sound on March 18.
Police prosecutor Tim Hambleton said the defendant told police he could 
not recall the crash on April 2 but he was
sorry for what he had done.
Cunliffe, who had his driver's licence suspended for 28 days after the 
incident, was remanded on bail until May 1 for a full pre-sentence report.
DRINK-DRIVING
A Queenstown man was convicted of driving with excess breath-alcohol 
after a defended hearing.
Melvin Alfred Fordyce (58)  developer, of Queenstown, denied driving with 
a breath alcohol level of 719mcg on
February 5, at Arthurs Point.
The arresting officer, Constable Jenny McFelin, could not conclusively 
state what was on the screen on her breath testing device, before she administered a 
breath screening test.
Defence counsel Kevin Phillips said that could mean there was a 
fundamental defect in the device and a legislative
test was not met, Mr Phillips claimed, and the charge against his client 
should be dismissed.
Judge Strettell said while there was a precedent to follow in the case, 
that was before changes to the Land Transport
Act in 1998, which legislated
against technical defences regarding breath screening tests.
"I hold if there was an error with regard to the breath screening test, 
the carrying out of it, such an error... does not negate the prosecution."
Fordyce was convicted and fined $750, court costs $130 and was 
disqualified for six months.
FAILED TO STOP
Toni Gerald McKay (22), supermarket assistant, of Queenstown, pleaded 
guilty to failing to stop for police on March
24 and using threatening language on March 30. He was convicted on both 
charges and fined $200 and $300,
respectively, court costs totalling $260.
CARELESS DRIVING
Jason Anthony Glendenning (28), pleaded guilty to careless driving and 
exceeding a temporary speed limit controlled
by signs in the Kawarau Gorge on January 7.
He was convicted and fined $450 (careless driving), fined $300 for 
exceeding a temporary speed limit with court costs totalling $260.
THREW BOTTLE
A Queenstown man who ran from police after being seen throwing a bottle 
into the air recklessly on March 25
appeared on two charges.
Grant Desmond Baird (29), a labourer, pleaded guilty to charges of 
resisting a constable and depositing litter likely to
cause physical injury.
Mr Hambleton said the defendant struggled with two police officers for 
five minutes and was only restrained after help
from two members of the public.
Baird was convicted and
fined $250, court costs $260. FIGHTING
One of five Gore men who pleaded guilty last month to charges arising 
from a fight in Rees St, Queenstown, on
March 19, was sentenced.
Jason Mark Vetters (23), a freezing worker, was convicted of fighting in 
a public place and was fined $300, court
costs $130.
INTENTIONAL DAMAGE "People who are not drunk do not act this way," Judge 
Strettell told Blair Mervyn Bertram, who pleaded guilty to a charge of intentional 
damage.
Bertram (21), tyre fitter, of Queenstown, admitted kicking the windows of 
two doors at the Edge Niteclub, after being
asked to leave by security staff on Sunday morning. Damage was estimated 
at $582.55
Bertram was convicted and fined $200, court costs $130 and ordered to pay 
reparation.
DRINK-DRIVING
Peter Harry Box (36), tourism operator, of Queenstown, driving with an 
excess breath-alcohol level of 731mcg,
convicted and fined $750, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
Leslie William Rogerson (73), retired, of Arrowtown, driving with an 
excess breath-alcohol level of 512mcg, convicted
and fined $450, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
Anna Maree Taylor (23), receptionist, of' Queenstown, driving with an 
excess blood-alcohol level of 102mg, convicted
and fined $500, court costs $130, ordered to pay medical expenses and 
analyst's fee totalling $141.50, disqualified six months.

Suburban pharmacist saw much change in 46 years

From pills and potions to bowls and books … Green Island pharmacist Barrye Irving is 
looking forward to life away from prescriptions when he retires at the end of the month.

Green Island
By Jocelyn Stirling

When Barrye Irvine started work as a pharmacist 46 years ago, his 
patients never knew the names of the drugs he
dispensed.
They were known simply as "the tablets" or "the mixture".
"It was a bit like a secret society in those days. Doctors would make 
their diagnoses and write out prescriptions but
wouldn't  necessarily tell the patient about the medicine they were 
prescribing or why.
"We would have people asking about their medication but we weren't 
allowed to tell them. We could only ask them
what they went to their doctor for or tell them to ask their doctor."
How things have changed, Mr Irvine observed, as he contemplated 
retirement from his Green Island pharmacy at the
end of this month.
After qualifying in the 1950s, Mr Irvine worked at various pharmacies 
before moving to Clarkson's Pharmacy in Green
Island. In 1985, he bought the business and renamed it Irvine's Pharmacy.
As a newly qualified pharmacist, Mr Irvine spent most of his working day 
making up medicines from raw materials.
His mortar and pestle were important tools then but are rarely used now 
that
most medicines are ready made.
"You could say I've gone from out the back more to behind the counter to 
give advice about the medicines."
That was part of a trend toward openness between
doctors, pharmacists and patients. He was pleased that patients now felt 
more comfortable asking their doctors and
pharmacists about their prescriptions.
However, the freer relationship between pharmacists and their customers went beyond 
that, Mr Irvine said.
In a suburban business, customers became friends.
"You meet them at sport and at social functions. They'll talk about their 
families, trips they've made and things which
have happened in their everyday lives. And maybe I'll ask them about the 
golf score they got in the weekend or how
they're going with their bowls."
Mr Irvine officially retired at the end of March but is helping new owner
Paul Larson until the end of the month.
He is already enjoying the change in ownership.
"A pharmacist has to be on the premises at all times when the business is 
open. As I was the only one who was
qualified over the last 15 years, I had to eat my lunch 'on the run'. Now 
I can go home and have a more leisurely
meal."
Mr Irvine has no intention of making himself available as a locum 
pharmacist once he finishes work.
"Once I'm out of the door, that will be it," he said firmly.
Mr Irvine will spend his retirement in Green Island and is looking 
forward to playing golf and indoor bowls, reading and
having more time to spend with family and friends.
He said his first name had an unusual spelling because of a spur of the 
moment decision by his mother
"On the day I was to be christened, there were six boys. Four of them 
were going to be christened Barry so my
mother quickly decided to add an 'e' to my name just to be different.
 "It has caused some
problems over the years,
such as the time I found
out my car was legally
owned by someone who
didn't have an 'e' at the end
of his first name. I ended
up having to pay to get the
ownership papers
changed."

Historical curator Peter Entwisle discusses a painting by Ralph Hotere which opposed a 
planned aluminium smelter Aramoana.

Entwisle pays tribute to leading Dunedin artist

By John Gibb

Dunedin Public Art Gallery historical curator Peter Entwisle has paid 
tribute to the "remarkable technical innovation"
of leading Dunedin artist Ralph Hotere.
Mr Entwisle was one of four speakers taking part on a "floortalk" 
discussion at the gallery on Sunday.
The talk, titled "Vive: Human Rights, Aramoana, Observation Point and Beyond", 
examined the theme of protest and response 
in Hotere's work.
The discussion was linked to "Black Light", a collection of Hotere works 
spanning four decades.
Mr Entwisle discussed an unusual work which focused on Port Otago plans 
to cut away part of Observation Point to
increase its port operations.
Hotere had shown "remarkable technical innovation" in his treatment of an 
apparently unpromising metal sheet.
His use of a blow torch to achieve drawing effects showed Hotere was a 
"terrific innovator", he said.
Hotere was part of an international abstract art movement, but his works 
were more strongly engaged with protest.
A ceramicist and lecturer,
Lawrence Ewing, described an unsuccessful battle by artists throughout the country to 
save Hotere's former studio at Observation Point.
There had initially been some disappointment when Hotere had agreed to 
sell his studio, effectively enabling the point to be cut back.
Plant ecologist Ralph Allen and sculptor Derek Ball also contributed to 
the discussion.

No eldercare policies in place but may be needed in future, employers say

By Jocelyn Stirling
The Otago Southland Employers Association has not heard of any employers 
in the region who have policies that
specifically deal with the eldercare responsibilities of their employees, 
as suggested by the Equal Employment
Opportunities Trust.
However, Employers Association chief executive Duncan
Simpson said because the population was ageing, it was an issue that 
might need closer attention in the future.
The EEO Trust would like to see employers adopting a policy that included 
flexible hours and leave for employees
with elderly dependants, covering care costs for work-related commitments 
and an assistance programme to counsel staff caring for elderly relatives.
An EEO survey showed only 3.5% of organisations responding had an 
eldercare policy.
Follow-up calls revealed many organisations had confused an eldercare 
policy with one for older employees.
Otago CTU convener Mark Ryan said while employment
contracts might not directly address the issue, it was not uncommon for 
those in the state sector to have sick leave provisions allowing employees to take time off 
with pay to look after 
dependants of any age.
Mr Ryan said that provision was less common in private sector agreements 
but employees could often take up to 10
days'
domestic leave under the Holidays Act to care for their dependants.
However, they could face problems taking such a step.
"They may not have enough leave to look after an elderly dependant 
adequately in an emergency and they may be
required to give notice of taking leave to the employer."
Mr Ryan said there would always be issues when people took leave to cope 
with personal situations. "Often it comes
down to the discretion of the employer. More are likely to be willing to 
extend leave without pay so employees can deal with the situation."
Mr Ryan said while a provision that allowed employees to
look after all elderly dependant without loss of pay would be good, he
questioned whether employers should bear the cost.
"The employer has a fair point to make if the employee is
spending more time at home
caring for a dependent than at
work. It then becomes a health
and welfare matter, which is the
responsibility of the Government, not the employer."

Flood photo exhibition

The record flood that devastated areas of Central Otago and Southland in November is 
the subject of an exhibition of photographs in Wellington. Queenstown-born 
photographer Alan Knowles visited the region from his Wellington base to record the 
tragedy in which dozens of people saw their homes and businesses destroyed.
The exhibition of more than 40 images is supplemented by vintage photographs of flood 
scenes taken by Mr Knowles' father, Doug, a professional photographer in Queenstown 
from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Kite all in a (holi)day's work

Arrgh, says the dragon … Thomas Albert (7) tries out his dragon kite, made yesterday 
during the Discovery World holiday programme at the Otago Museum.

Dunedin District Court

A 17-year-old Rotorua youth who committed nine offences while visiting 
Dunedin at Christmas was sentenced to
corrective training by Judge Chris Harding in the Dunedin District Court 
yesterday.
Eruana Henare Te Kiri, unemployed, was convicted of disorderly behaviour at 
the Warehouse, a related Crimes Act
assault on a woman and a related Summary Offences Act assault on a male on 
December 16; assaulting, resisting and
obstructing Constable Elizabeth Denise Forde in the execution of her duty 
on December 21; attempted fraudulent use
of a cheque on January 21; stealing $220 cash, the property of Arkwright 
Traders, and a related Summary Offences Act
assault on a male on February 3.
Counsel Anne Stevens said Te Kiri's Christmas visit had gone "sadly awry". 
He got into substances that were not good
for him and led him to anti-social behaviour.
However, there was another side to the youth. Hopefully, that better side 
would flourish when he returned to his family in
Rotorua.
"He has spent the past eight weeks in custody. If released today, he 
intends to go back to Rotorua," Mrs Stevens advised.
Judge Harding imposed corrective training.
The effect would be Te Kiri's immediate release, he said. The youth's time 
in custody was equivalent to a sentence of
corrective training, and he had no previous relevant convictions.
BENEFIT FRAUD
Alistair Symon Kellas (27), of Palmerston, was convicted and sentenced to 
three months' periodic detention for benefit
fraud.
He admitted wilfully failing to advise Winz he was working and earning 
income, in order to receive a community wage
job seeker benefit and accommodation supplement from January 18 to June 20 
last year.
Prosecutor Eleanor Bunt said the offending resulted in Kellas receiving 
$2395.30, to which he was not entitled.
Reparation was not sought. Kellas had begun repaying the money. Deductions 
were being made from his current
benefit.
OBSTRUCTED OFFICER
Appearing for sentence after admitting obstructing a police officer making 
a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act at
Port Chalmers on January 20, Alexandra Kate Morison (28), mother, was 
convicted and fined $200, court costs $130.
Morison, of Port Chalmers, was dealt with by fine at the request of counsel Jim Takas. 
He submitted jail 
was not warranted but, for various reasons,
Morison was not suitable for community service or periodic detention.
Her life was disorganised, if not chaotic, he said. She was having trouble 
balancing her commitments.
POSSESSED CANNABIS
After admitting possessing cannabis, Gene Ryan Stuart (23), tyre fitter, 
was convicted and fined $200, court costs $130.
The amount, 24g in total, was found in a search of his house on March 24.
HAD CANNABIS PIPE
Kalvin James Cole (22), unemployed, admitted being in possession of a 
cannabis smoking pipe in Princes St on
December 9.
He was convicted and fined $150, court costs $130.
DRINK-DRIVING
Gary James Cooper (38), panel beater, of Mosgiel, driving with an excess 
breath-alcohol level of 682 micrograms, on State Highway 1 at Fairfield on March 30, 
convicted, fined $600, court 
costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months.

Pool cue assault denied

An incident in Frederick St on the night of July 29 last year, when two 
young men were struck with a pool cue, is the
subject of a jury trial in the Dunedin District Court.
Before Judge John Macdonald and a jury is Dean Richard McDowell (35), 
manager.
McDowell, represented by Mike Newall, denies assaulting the two 
complainants, Shaun Russell and Paul Edwards,
with a pool cue.
Robin Bates is prosecuting the case, which is
expected to be completed tomorrow.
The complainants said in evidence they left the Fat Ladies Arms tavern 
after sharing eight to nine jugs of beer. There
was a dispute with McDowell, a manager with the hotel, about them removing 
some glasses from the bar and
McDowell, spat at Mr Edwards.
Mr Russell then spat at McDowell, who swung at him with a pool cue. Both Mr 
Russell and Mr Edwards "took off"
along Frederick St.
Mr Russell said as he reached the Leith St intersection, the accused grabbed his bag and 
punched and kicked him, knocking 
him unconscious.
Mr Edwards described McDowell, as being abusive and "in my face". The 
complainant said he went to run after Mr
Russell but was hit in the face with a pool cue, resulting in a wound which 
needed 14 stitches.
Both complainants identified the accused as the person who hit them and 
both denied using McDowell, as a
"convenient scapegoat" for what happened.
The hearing continues today.

No move vet on institute

By Blair Mayston

The Dunedin Institute of Learning was to have been deregistered by April 
7 if it did not get its affairs in order but the
Qualifications Authority has yet to take that action.
Authority spokeswoman Fiona Pattison said yesterday there had been no 
developments with the institute and the
matter was still being worked through.
The authority said late last month the institute needed to meet an eight-page list of 
requirements by April 7 to avoid
being deregistered. Ms Pattison declined to say what the requirements were, as the 
institute's case was yet to be resolved.
Owner Alex Firestone said last week he would be "silly" to try to cover 
all the regulations, which related to
"paperwork", as it would be financially impossible to meet them all and 
survive. He planned instead to fight for a
change in the regulations.
The institute operates the 12-student Dunedin English Language School. If 
it is deregistered, the school will remain
open but will not be able to offer courses lasting more than three months.
Mr Firestone said that would result in fewer overseas students attending 
the language school and the institute's King Edward International High School, an 
alternative school with 20 students.
 The authority has yet to receive an application for reregistration from 
Clark Training, which lost its registration late last month, Ms Pattison said.
The training establishment, which offers hospitality and catering and painting and 
decorating courses, is legally not able to offer nationally approved qualifications while it 
is not registered.

Michael Foster, master of Spirit of New Zealand, talks to Dunedin Mayor Sukhi Turner 
about the rigging of the tall ship. The mayor travelled on the ship to Port Chalmers on 
Sunday from the harbour basin.

Almost enough for a flat … University of Otago students take a break from cleaning up 
the Water of Leith on Thursday with some of their spoils. They are, from left, Michael 
Tritt, Shamus Husheer, Jeltsje Keizer, Katharine Morrison, Cameron McHale, Emily 
Hicks, Ruth Beuke and Wayne Rhodes. The students were horrified at the amount of 
rubbish discovered, organiser Jeltsje Keizer said. Burned lounge chairs, a sofa, a heater, 
shopping trolleys, Dunedin City Council signs, fast food refuse and lots of glass were 
among the items picked out by the 20 student volunteers.

Sharing a good story … Logan Park High School fourth former Rhys Abraham (14) 
shares a favourite story, Mog the Forgetful Cat, with Tom Patrick (6) at Opoho School. 
Rhys, a former pupil at Opoho School, and other Logan Park students have been reading 
to first-year pupils at Opoho during National Book Week.

Narrator Michael Bennett (left) and Princess Priscilla (Mark Hathaway) entertain children 
at Mosgiel's Reid Park School, including, seated from left, Michael Creighton (6), Tyler 
Gallagher (6) and Bradley Cookson (6). Children at several Dunedin primary schools 
were introduced to the wacky and magical side of theatre by students of the Otago 
Institute of Television, Theatre and Radio. For the last three days of the first school term 
the troupe of students performed at primary schools every morning and afternoon.

Enjoying the disco at Burns Hall are Blue Light partygoers, from left, Monica Rietveld, 
Genevieve Anderson, Christine Tuxford, Rochelle Lord and Hayley Pulham (all 14). The 
police annual Blue Light all night party was held over the weekend, from Saturday night 
until 8am on Sunday. Almost 200 12 to 17-year olds danced, swam, skated, bowled, 
watched a movie and ate breakfast. Co-ordinator Senior Constable Dave Wiseman said 
the teenagers were particularly quiet in the movie and he thought some were sleeping. 
The teenagers came from Milton, Balclutha, Oamaru, Lawrence, and Dunedin.

Fire authority claims costs
By Dianne King

Alexandra: The National Rural Fire authority is claiming repayment of more 
than $380,000 for the costs of the 1999
Springvale fires  from Springvale farmer Kevin Attfield and power company 
Pioneer Generation.
About mid-afternoon on February 28 last year the Springvale fire is alleged to have 
started about 4km north of Alexandra, after high winds brought down a branch from trees 
beside a power line in 
the Waikerikeri Valley, snapping a wire and
sending it to the ground. A fire was started, which burned about 2600ha. 
Two houses were destroyed and families
evacuated from their homes at the height of the fire.
Speaking yesterday from Wellington, chief rural fire officer Murray 
Dudfield confirmed the authority had identified the
source of the fire and had advised the parties concerned it intended taking 
action to recover the costs, assessed at
$389,161.90.
He also confirmed those involved were Mr Attfield and Pioneer Generation, 
which took over the power company Central Electric, owner of the lines, about six weeks 
after the fires.
Central Electric sold its lines and retail businesses as the result of 
power reforms and the remaining business is owned by Pioneer Generation.
Mr Dudfield said Pioneer Generation was included in the action as successor 
to Central Electric.
Over the past nine years, the authority had taken about 100 similar claims and was 
generally successful in reaching
agreement, he said.
Yesterday, Pioneer Generation chief executive Peter Dowling confirmed he 
had received notice of the claim and the
matter was now in the hands of the company's insurers.
Mr Attfield could not be contacted for comment last night.
At the same time as the Springvale fire, a second fire raged through 
hundreds of hectares of land south of Alexandra, on the Knobby Range and at Fruitlands. 
The source of this fire is still 
unknown.
When the fires broke out, the district was in the grip of a severe drought 
and fires in tinder-dry vegetation were fanned by northwest winds estimated at 120kmh.
A civil defence emergency was called.

Sign of the times ... disability support locality manager Louise Carr (left), Healthcare 
Otago deputy chairman Mike
Coburn, Health Funding Authority locality manager Chris Crane (seated), 
Healthcare Otago contracts manager Megan Boivin, chairman Ross Black and chief 
executive Dr Bill Adam agree on the latest funding contract.

Health funding agreement
By Simon Hartley

Healthcare Otago yesterday signed its funding agreement with the Health 
Funding Authority for 2000-01.
No details of the contract
were made available but Healthcare Otago board chairman Ross Black said a 
joint statement from the HFA and
Healthcare Otago would be released today.
In the financial year ended June 1999, Healthcare Otago received $159 
million from the
HFA, compared with $152 million the previous year. Its total revenue was 
$185 million.
Deputy chairman Mike Coburn told the Otago Daily Times earlier yesterday 
that the signing with the HFA was the
first among the country's 22 hospitals.

Knights, dames off next honours list
Continued from page 1

the order of merit, will replace two levels of knighthood previously 
awarded.
The remaining three tiers - companions, officers and members of the New 
Zealand Order of Merit - will remain as they have been since 1995.
Also retained are the Queen's Service Order and the Queen's Service Medal.
Ms Clark said the consultation carried out in 1995 revealed support for getting rid of 
titles, and 
the public mood was likely to have become even more strongly supportive since.
The advisory committee argued that retaining knights and dames over-shadowed the 
more important Order of New Zealand. She said Australia had not had titles since 1983 
and Canada had abolished them in the mid-1930s.
Mrs Shipley said the Government was robbing New Zealanders of the chance to 
honour their heroes and was creating
a "bland, politically-correct world" in which great achievers were frowned upon.
"A National government would restore New Zealand titles so once again we 
could honour our heroes."
Act leader Richard Prebble said the Government had no mandate for the 
change, as it had not been put to
Parliament.
United leader Peter Dunne said the decision confirmed the Government's "arrogant 
style". – NZPA

Mayoral mail problem is not new
By Dylan Thorne

Mary Ogg

Former Gore mayor Ian Tulloch says the opening of mayoral mail "has always 
been a contentious issue".
Mayor Mary Ogg has taken the unusual step of advertising to tell ratepayers 
to mark letters to her as "private and
confidential".
In a public notice placed in the Ensign under a Gore District Council logo, 
she claimed her mail had been opened and
answered on her behalf without her knowledge.
Mr Tulloch said during his term, staff needed to be reminded of the problem 
a couple of times.
"Early in the piece, I asked the general manager to forward any 
correspondence with the mayor's name on it
unopened to me.
"It's very important ratepayers have direct access to the mayor and 
councillors without having to go through council staff," he said.
"After all, a ratepayer could be writing to complain about the treatment 
they received from a council employee or a
process.
"In theory, their  correspondence could be opened by the staff member they are 
complaining about, which should not 
happen," Mr Tulloch said.
Mrs Ogg said ratepayers who wrote to the mayor of the Gore District Council 
should be able to do so, confident their
letters would only be opened by the mayor or the appropriate personal 
assistant.
The situation had been an ongoing problem, she said.
"People have made comments out on the street that I haven't answered a 
letter they sent me.
"I have to say I haven't even seen it because staff have not
passed it on to me," she said.
"Most of the mail I receive is from people at the end of their tether, who 
have written to me for help.
"I believe ratepayers who write to me in confidence should feel assured 
their mail will only be opened by either myself or my personal assistant.
"It's an invasion of their privacy otherwise."
However, council chief executive Owen Pickles said mail addressed 
specifically to the mayor was sent to her
secretary.
"Obviously, all mail is not clearly addressed and there have been occasions 
when it has been sent to an officer to
action or put before council before it has been seen by the mayor.
"This often happens when a letter is addressed to the mayor and 
councillors, which is the old traditional way of
addressing councils and these have been placed in agendas.
"The mayor believes she should have first crack at these and there have 
been occasions
when she hasn't."
Mr Pickles said most of the problems arose with letters addressed to mayor 
and councillors, rather than someone
specifically.
"If a letter is addressed specifically to the mayor, it is sent to her 
unopened."
Mr Pickles agreed it had been an ongoing issue.
"We are endeavouring to follow the policy, but it is open to interpretation. I believe the 
people who open the mail act
with the utmost integrity."
Auckland-based assistant ombudsman Richard Fisher said it was an internal 
matter which should be dealt with by
formulating a clear policy.
"Councils often table issues like this at their meetings. I think it is an 
internal issue that would should be discussed at a council meeting."
Any letters addressed to the mayor acting in the capacity as mayor were 
subject to the Local Government Official
Information Act, he said.

The inspiration of an unknown artist? Terry Maguire, of Dunedin, displays the October 
1980 Listener which carried his
photograph of poet James K. Baxter.

Photographic memory of Baxter
By Blair Mayston

The search for information on the artist of a portrait of Dunedin-born 
poet James K. Baxter continues, but a Dunedin
man may have shed some light on the artist's inspiration.
Amateur photographer Terry Maguire contacted the Otago Daily Times 
yesterday after reading that Upper Hutt art enthusiast Ernest Cosgrove was trying to find 
out about the artist who 
painted his portrait of Baxter
Mr Cosgrove bought it in a Newtown second-hand store six years ago for 
$2200. He believed it was painted about
1982.
It is signed "Corben" but his
efforts to find out about the artist have been fruitless.
"I saw the picture [in the newspaper] and I thought 'That looks vaguely 
familiar'," Mr Maguire said.
Baxter was born in Dunedin and held the University of Otago's Robert 
Burns Fellowship in 1966 and 1967.
The alcoholic poet spent the following year helping alcoholics and drug 
addicts in Auckland and Wellington, and
established a commune at Jerusalem, on the Wanganui River, in 1969,
He died in October 1972, aged 46.
Mr Maguire took his photograph of Baxter at Jerusalem in 1971, while 
attending a New Zealand Photographic Society conference in Wanganui.
"He was walking towards me, and I said 'Do you mind [if I take a photograph]'," Mr 
Maguire said. "He said 'Hmmm',
so I took it." 
The photograph was exhibited at the. 1980 photographic society conference 
in Masterton, and appeared on the cover
of the October 25-31 issue of the Listener that year.
Mr Maguire had no doubt the portrait of Baxter was based on his 
photograph, because even small details like the
slant of Baxter's shoulders and the wisps of hair were the same.
"I reckon it's about as identical as you can get for a painting from a 
photograph."
However, he could offer no clues as to who might have painted the 
portrait.
Ernest Cosgrove, of Upper Hutt, displays the James K. Baxter portrait he 
bought at a second-hand store about two
years ago. He is searching for information about its artist.

Call to make city Hogmanay capital
By Sharon Fowler

Dunedin may become Hogmanay capital of the world, if the city council has 
its way.
More than one million people attended the Hogmanay celebrations on New 
Year's Eve at Edinburgh, in Scotland, Cr
Richard Walls said at the council's events and festivals subcommittee 
meeting yesterday.
Dunedin is one the first cities in the world to celebrate New Year.
Council events co-ordinator Islay McLeod said in a report that Dunedin's 
millennium celebrations had attracted
international and national media coverage.
A $100,000 lottery millennium grant had paid for events including 
fireworks and cannons.
Ms McLeod requested that the council give $20,000 for cannons and 
fireworks in the Octagon to mark this coming New Year.
Mayor Sukhi Turner expressed concern at spending $5000 of that money on 
fireworks and asked if some other way
could be found to celebrate. She wanted "the best bang for our bucks".
The subcommittee agreed to tell the economic development committee that 
there was an ongoing potential for
Dunedin to achieve international
recognition as one of the first cities to hold New Year celebrations.
In her report about the annual Summer Festival in February, Ms McLeod 
said the general feeling was that the festival parade was "tired".
"There is no thrill, fun or festive spirit to it. There is no longer any 
community or business buy-in with floats," she said.
Cr Walls said a Santa parade was held at Christmas and questioned the 
demand for two parades in two months.
The subcommittee agreed the festival's content and dates should be 
discussed informally.

Fill from trimming flows over the lower part of Observation Point below the stabilisation 
benches cut in by contractors.

Earthworks over time but within budget
By Simon Hartley

Earthwork stabilisation of Observation Point has taken longer than 
estimated but is likely to come within its $300,000 budget, according to Port Otago's 
technical services manager, Tony Dicks.
For several months last year, loose earth and rocks fell from the cliff
face and erosion concerned local residents. A house at the top of the 
hill was demolished in December.
Mr Dicks said contractors had cut four tiered "benches" into the hill and 
were now trimming its lower face to create a slightly flatter angle.
"It is going well but we have been severely restricted by rain," Mr Dicks 
said yesterday. "There is a risk working on the hillside in the wet and we didn't want to be 
carting mud through the town."
The fence at the foot of Observation Point, which overlooks Port Otago's 
log and processed wood storage facilities, had
been taken down to allow contractors to access the rubble created.
Mr Dicks said the job might be completed in three to four weeks. The 
fence would be reinstated.

Sharebroker confirmed sponsor for arts festival
By Mark Hotton

Organisers of the Otago Festival of the Arts are buoyed by the signing of a 
corporate sponsor.
Dunedin-based sharebroking .firm Forsyth Barr has secured naming .rights to a series of 
daily lunchtime concerts at
St Paul's Cathedral in the Octagon.
Festival chairman Rob Garrett was delighted at yesterday's announcement.
"This new association adds to the partnership mix that is essential to the 
successful mounting of the festival," he
said.
"It also creates some robust and exciting links between the city's business 
community and the festival, as well as
highlighting the synergies that need to be forged between the festival and 
all stakeholders."
Forsyth Barr chairman Eion Edgar said the festival was important to the 
city and deserved to be supported.
It was vital festivals like the planned arts one were held, as they added 
value to a city. It was no good having roads or a sewerage system if there was no-one to 
use them, he said.
Revenue from businesses equals 18% of the festival's budget of $600,000.
The Community Trust of Otago has provided 28% ($220,000), while 9% is being sought 
from Creative New Zealand and 30% from box office
sales.
The Dunedin City Council is being asked to provide the remaining 15% but at 
present has allocated no funding to the
festival. Mr Garrett
hoped the decision not to provide funding would be overturned at next 
week's annual plan hearings.
Businesses had indicated council support was vital, as it helped legitimise 
the event, he said.
Funding for arts was always difficult to obtain but having support from 
national and local bodies such as Creative New
Zealand, the trust and the council helped build confidence in an event, Mr 
Garrett said.

Researchers believe children can contribute
By Marjorie Cook

Anne Smith

Do not wait until children are 12 before you listen to them - engage them 
in more research now, Prof Anne Smith
says.
Prof Smith yesterday launched a new book Children's Voices, at a function 
at St Margarets College in Dunedin.
The book was also the subject of Prof Smith's address yesterday, on the 
first day of an early childhood education conference being held at St Hildas Collegiate in 
Dunedin this week.
"Often, there is a mistaken assumption that children's views are not worth 
listening to until they are at least 12 years
of age. This book shows much younger children are quite capable of 
expressing their concerns," Prof Smith said yesterday.
Social and economic change had disadvantaged New Zealand children through 
unacceptable levels of poverty,
family violence, family breakdown, child abuse or neglect, youth 
unemployment and suicide rates, she said.
Children's Voices is a collection of
papers by socialresearchers and policy workers edited by Prof Smith, the
director of the University of Otago Children's Issues Centre, and staff 
members Nicola Taylor and Megan Gollop.
It was published by Pearson Education.
In the book, the specialists argue that supporting children's well-being 
and development can be achieved more
effectively by recognising children as people in their own right, with 
valid points of view. The Children's Issues Centre
was committed to a model of research, advocacy and policy
making that promoted the active participation of children.
 The centre and the Department of Geography are working on a project to 
find out what Alexandra and Dunedin
children think of the communities they live in and their use of public space.
Children who want to participate are asked to contact Dr Ruth Liepins (03) 
479 8784 or Dr Karen Nairn (03) 479 5089
or write to them at PO Box 56 Dunedin.

Holidays action-packed
By Dinah Dunavan

School's out	what's on?

Today's weather forecast is for southerlies and rain clearing, so some of 
the indoor activities on offer during the school
holidays might appeal.
The YWCA programme includes a visit to the Edgar Sports Centre. A netball 
competition, Kids v Supervisors, will cap off an active day trying out different sports.
Make a kite in the morning and create cosmetic creams in the afternoon at 
Discovery World at the Otago Musuem.
The Crazy Kites session is from 10am to noon and Lotions and Potions from 
1pm to 3pm.
Phill, the Frolicking Fabulist will be at the Mosgiel Library from 2pm to 
3pm today.
The Queenstown Meadowfresh Kids Klub is heading for the driving range to 
practise power hitting and there will be
games at the Events Centre at Frankton.
Meet at the Wanaka Town Hall from 10am to noon to Make a Kite. Kites will 
be flown at Pembroke Park from 1pm to
3pm.
Golf lessons for 6 to 8-year-olds continue at the driving range, Cardrona 
Rd.
If you did not get to do all the activities on yesterday's list, here they 
are again:
The Big Chill Ice Arena in Kaikorai Valley is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Discovery World has Bears.
The Exhibition of the Century is on at the Otago Settlers' Museum.
The Westpac Trust Aquarium on the Otago Peninsula is open from noon to 
4.30pm every day.
The Moana Pool is open from 6am to 10pm. Fun sessions are held from 8.30am 
to 10pm and the water-slide is open
from 10am to 4.45pm and 7pm to 9.30pm.
Don't forget daily theatre shows.
Playbox, at the Fortune Theatre begins at 11am.
The Adventures of Naughty Mr Peter Rabbit is showing at the Dunedin 
Repertory Children's Theatre at 11am and 2pm.
The Taieri Dramatic Society will be performing There's A Genie In My Lamp 
at 6.30pm at the Fire Station Theatre.

Child cancer appeal begins
By Marjorie Cook

The week-long Child Cancer Foundation annual appeal begins today.
 To mark the event,
the Otago-Southland
division has
organised a hospital
visit by celebrities at
3pm tomorrow and
Wee Willie Winkie
races in the Dunedin
Octagon at noon on
Friday.
Radioworks has also organised an Easter Egg Hunt at Woodhaugh Gardens from 
11am to 2pm on Sunday. Funds
raised will go to the foundation.
The foundation's main street appeal is on Friday.
Appeal funds will be used to support and assist the families of children 
with cancer.
Eleven children are being treated for cancer in Otago-Southland at present, 
with two in Christchurch receiving bone
marrow transplants.
A 12th child from the region completed treatment yesterday.
The Child Cancer Foundation is a separate organisation to the Cancer 
Society.

Teacher wins scholarship to world conference
By Blair Mayston

A Dunedin classics teacher has won an international scholarship, allowing 
her to attend the world's largest classics
conference in the United States this year.
Josephine Vincent, who teaches seventh-form classics at Kaikorai Valley 
College, said the Arthur
Patch McKinney Scholarship was worth $US1500 ($NZ2795).
She was not sure how many people had applied for the scholarship, but it 
was open to members of the American
Classics League throughout the world.
The Indiana conference, attended by school teachers and academics, will be 
held from June 29 to July 1.
Ms Vincent would probably concentrate especially on the Iliad and Socrates, 
as they were part of the New Zealand
curriculum.
Ms Vincent said classics was rapidly growing in popularity. It included the 
study of history, philosophy, literature and
art, and gave students a sense of the roots of much of Western civilisation.

Hirequip building for sale by auction
By Fiona Hill

The former Hirequip building in Cumberland St is being offered for sale by 
auction, but international home furnishing
and fabric retailer Spotlight is still considering buying the property.
Hirequip managing director Stuart McKinlay said Spotlight was still 
negotiating to buy the building and trying to sort
out issues with parking and the Dunedin City Council.
The building was originally a woolstore built for the National Mortgage and 
Agency Company in 1937.
It remained a woolstore after being sold to Reid Farmers in 1978, until 
1982, when Hirequip bought it for an equipment rental store in 1982.
The two upper floors in the three-storey building were built of rimu, Mr McKinlay said.
The floors were made to hold bales of wool, stacked four bales high, and were still 
saturated in lanolin from the unscoured fleeces.
The woolstore was a popular venue for "varsity hops" in the 1960s and '70s, 
he said.
Hirequip has been moving plant and equipment to its new premises in 
Cumberland St since last year. The company planned to build a 600sq m administration 
block when the old building is sold.
The auction of the building, if it is not sold beforehand, will be held on 
April 18.

Best flat contenders ... St David St students under surveillance are, from left, Andrew 
Hall, Jeremy Kotua, Ross
Mitchell, Greg Smith, Andrew Cribb and Ryan Underdown - supported by a 
cardboard cut-out of Matthew Ridge.

Students go online in best flat contest
By Simon Hartley

Two Dunedin flats came under world-wide electronic surveillance yesterday 
in an promotion to find New Zealand's best student flat.
One of the flats, known as 'Animal Farm Live - Flat 3', by all appearances an appropriate 
name, is home to six St
David St flatmates. It is one of two Dunedin flats and one each from 
Wellington and Auckland competing for a year's
free rent in a Vodafone promotion.
Animal Farm spokesman Greg Smith said the flatmates' "near naked" photo 
application to join the promotion
"probably helped".
Since going online the flat had contacted e-mail users in the United 
Kingdom and United States to entice voyeurs to click on to Flat 3 and send "e-mail chain 
letters" of support.
All the flats went "live" online to the world yesterday after Vodafone 
installed an Internet camera in their lounges.
Yesterday, the promotion appeared to have had little or no effect on piles of washing up, 
dirty clothes and assorted empties in the two-storey flat - however, one flat mate was 
sprung making a valiant attempt at ironing.
Mr Smith said part of the deal was to gain sponsorship for the flat and 
for the flatmates to be seen out in the
community and on campus.
He said the six, aged 20 to 21, were all third or fourth year University 
of Otago students and knew each other before the promotion.
All four flats can be watched at www.vodafone-flat.co.nz where 15 second time lapse 
photography captures what is 
happening in each lounge room.
This competition differed from a recent radio promotion where six 
flatmates were systematically voted out by Internet
users to leave one $10,000 winner.
The "best New Zealand flat" will be chosen from the highest number of 
Internet, or text message votes on 021 767 503. After voting finishes on April 21, the 
winning flat receives up to 
$280 a week rent for the rest of the year.

Memorial gateway cleaned up for Anzac Day
By Blair Mayston

Mike Bradshaw

A memorial gateway at Caversham  School, which was built to commemorate former 
pupils killed in World War 1 has been spruced up in time for Anzac Day.
Parent Mike Bradshaw volunteered to clean the memorial gateway, which 
stands on the corner of South Rd and
Surrey St.
The gateway was erected to "honour and commemorate the patriotism and proud services 
of fellow pupils who gave their life in the Great War".
Forty-one names of the fallen are listed.
It is believed the gate has been there since the 1920s.
"It looked messy," Mr Bradshaw said after a ceremony at the newly-cleaned gateway 
which was attended by representatives of the army's Otago-Southland Regiment and the 
RSA
Mr Bradshaw, who attended the school in the early 1970s, spent two weeks 
working on the gateway to ensure it was
clean for Anzac Day, on April 25.
Passers-by, particularly older people had made encouraging comments when 
they saw him working on the gate, he
said.
Pupils from the school laid wreaths at the gate during the ceremony
An act of remembrance ... Caversham School pupils, from left, Niki Lee 
(10), Elise Mamanu-Gray (8), Tyrrell Barringer-Tairi (6) and Kelsey Bradshaw (9) lay 
wreaths at the school's newly-cleaned memorial gateway in honour of ex-pupils who died 
in World War 1.

News Digest
Rebel cause
Can the Otago Rebels redeem themselves when they take on the Canterbury Flames at the 
Dunedin Stadium this Saturday, 6.30pm? We have 10 sets of 4 tickets to give away.
To be in the draw, tell us the name of the coach of the Otago Rebels.
Fax your answers, plus a daytime contact number to (03) 474 7422, e-mail to 
odt.contest@alliedpress.co.nz, post to Netabll Contest, PO Box 534, Dunedin, or drop 
your answers into our office in Lower Stuart St, Dunedin by noon on Friday.
Dollar drops
Wellington: The New Zealand dollar plunged to levels not seen since 1986, finishing at 
US47.97 yesterday. At one point, the New Zealand currency touched US47.85c.
Details – p20
Bank review
How the Reserve bank manages its inflation target of zero to 3% and whether it 
communicates its actions clearly enough to the pubic and financial markets will be 
considered as part of the monetary policy review, announced yesterday.
Anderton happy – p20
Insurers to merge
The Commerce Commission yesterday cleared two of New Zealand's largest general 
insurance companies, New Zealand Insurance and State Insurance, to merge.

Park gets approval
By David Bruce

Oamaru: An agricultural theme park at Omarama, drawing on the region's reputation for 
producing quality merino wool, has been granted resource consent.
Trish and James Kerr, of Kurow, plan to operate the Omarama Merino Park on a site next 
to State Highway 8 at the town's northern boundary.
The Waitaki District Council's  hearings committee yesterday granted consent, subject to 
18 conditions, after negotiations resolved objections to the development.
Cr Bruce Albiston said Omarama was going to benefit hugely and the development was 
in everyone's interests. 
The park is to incorporate a 400sq m building, a car park, a bus park, an outdoor play 
area and three sheep paddocks on the 4.24ha property.
The dining area will cater for up to 50 people and the shearing display area will hold 
almost 100 people.

Play promotes appeal
Staff reporter

Children from Barnados Educational Childcare Services will take part in an activity 
playgroup at the Dunedin Gymnastic Centre from 10am tomorrow to support the annual 
Barnados appeal.
Area manage4 Margaret Gillanders said the playgroup was about promoting Barnados' 
work "and the need for everyone to look out for those children who need some extra 
help".
A non-stop hour of activities includes obstacle courses, gymnastics, jazz dance and 
parachute dance, she said.
Nationally, Barnados is highlighting child neglect and abuse as its theme to the appeal.
The Barnados Family Support programme, which addresses child  neglect and abuse 
issues, would benefit from the appeal, which started yesterday and finishes on Sunday.

Smoke-free pub proposal raises fears
By Jocelyn Stirling

Lighting up and  drinking up … Len Whitson, Vicki Walsh and "Fergie" Ferguson enjoy 
a combination of nicotine and alcohol at the Provincial Tavern.

Some Dunedin publicans fear their livelihoods will suffer if smoking is 
banned in hotel bars.
Health Minister Annette King is moving to include a smoking ban in hotels 
in smoke-free legislation now before Parliament.
Provincial Tavern publican Danny Taimalie said the proposal was ridiculous.
A non-smoker, he estimated more than 90% of his patrons were smokers.
"It's fair enough to ban smoking in the workplace and in places where food 
is served.
"However, we don't serve food here. This is a social venue and people 
should be able to smoke while having a drink if that's what they want."
Mr Taimalie said non-smokers already had a choice of staying or leaving 
when they saw smoking was permitted at the tavern.
He did not think smokers would want to patronise the tavern if they were 
not allowed inside the bar.
Mr Taimalie questioned whether Mrs King thought it would be appropriate for 
patrons to have a special area outside if they wanted to smoke
and drink
Kensington Tavern publican Chris Wilson thought it would be sensible to 
have some smoke-free bars around the city. However, he thought
up-market bars would be more suitable smoke-free venues than his tavern.
About 90% of his patrons smoked and Mr Wilson thought they would be very 
unhappy if they were not allowed to light up in his tavern.
As a non-smoker, he was aware of the hazards of working in a smoky 
atmosphere but said he accepted that as part of his job. 
Palmerston publican Richard Snell felt 60% of the business at bars would 
dry up if a smoking ban was imposed.
"Mrs King would be the most unpopular person among the hospitality industry 
if a ban came in," he said.
Albert Arms Tavern publican
Helen McCauley  said she understood the reasoning behind Mrs King's 
move. However, she felt it would be difficult if she had to turn
away regular patrons who smoked.
Her reaction was shared by the Bowler bar manager, Gaynor Saunders.
"It's crazy because we'd have to ask patrons who smoked to go and sit at 
our tables outside and that wouldn't be very pleasant in cold
weather."
Heffs Hotel publican Dave
McTainsh did not think a blanket ban would cause too many problems.
"Some people would moan but I think they would get used to a ban because 
smoking is now recognised as anti-social.
"However, it seems a bit ridiculous clamping down on smoking cigarettes 
when the Government is looking at legalising cannabis."
The Bacchus Wine Bar and Restaurant opened eight years ago as a smoke-free 
venue.
Spokeswoman Fiona Lock said patrons appreciated the clean air. She said few 
people walked out when they realised smoking was banned.
"Even smokers come in because they prefer the air here to the smoky 
atmosphere in some bars.
"And if they want to smoke, we give them an ashtray so they can go outside 
for a cigarette."
How the patrons reacted - page 3

Different stroke ... The Otago University rowing club team, (from left) Paul Cable, Gavin 
Burland (obscured), Glen
Sinclair and Wayne Bayloo, powers through the Octagon yesterday to win the Otago 
University Students Association Capping Week sofa race.

Rowers win race 'by a cushion'
By Mark Hotton

Racing sofas of all shapes and weights lined up for the second annual sofa 
race in the Octagon yesterday, held as
part of the Otago University Students Association Capping Week.
Some were torn and bedraggled, others dirty and old, but each was there to 
win.
Racing was fiercely competitive, with an air sofa being taken out of the 
competition by two spectators.
Following a "sofa identity" parade along George St, about 12 groups 
competed in the heats, with five sofas fighting it
out for the overall title.
The "Speight's" team proved "the faster you go, the bigger the mess", 
wiping out halfway through its heat, while the
Vodafone Flat of the Year team struggled to pull back the lead in its heat 
after being penalised for a false start.
However, the team from the University of Otago Rowing Club proved fitness 
was an advantage, taking out the final
"by a cushion".
Other awards presented were for best couch - Great King St flat's couch 
with "faded elegance"; worst couch - another rowing club couch with a half-eaten 
chicken; and best dressed - 
Selwyn Ballet's couch with "the men in
tutus".
Capping Week continues today with the Capping Battle on the Registry Lawn 
at 11.30am and the Lowland Games at
noon, featuring traditional porridge wrestling, haggis hurling and 
chilli-eating contests.

Drainage will not eliminate water pooling at Oval
By Andrea Jones

Water pooling on the Oval sports ground belies the fact new drainage has been installed, 
but the Dunedin City Council says improvements are not yet complete.

Parts may look a bit of a bog but the Dunedin City Council still believes 
"Lake Oval" will be reduced to a puddle.
Drainage at the Oval sports ground will be improved once work is complete 
but the pooling of water will not be
eliminated, the council says.
Puddles have formed on newly-sown grass on the Princes St side of the 
ground, following weekend rain totalling
6.5mm. About $80,000 has been spent on improving drainage and surface 
conditions in that area. Some cricket
wickets were shifted.
New drain lines had been laid but the rest of the work had yet to
be finished, council contract and asset manager Peter Morton said when 
contacted yesterday.
The grass was not established and a 15mm "carpeting of sand" had still to 
be applied, to help level the surface. The
sand carpet should be laid in August or September.
The aim was to try to drain a
large area into one corner, by the traffic lights at the Andersons Bay 
Rd-motorway intersection. There would always be "drainage issues".
Despite the improvements, the Princes St area could have surface water on 
it at times but there would be less of it
and it would drain more quickly, he said.

Severance payment legitimate, source says
By City Council Reporter Gail Goodger

The office of the Auditor-general has decided the Dunedin City Council was 
entitled to make a severance payment of
$249,300 to former chief executive Murray Douglas, the Otago Daily Times 
understands.
The Dunedin City Council had not received the decision yesterday.
The decision apparently says that, while there were some procedural 
matters that might have been done differently,
the council had met its legal obligations.
It was a difficult issue and decision for the council, but it had gone 
through a careful process and had the right to
negotiate to settle potential civil claims.
The investigation by the auditor-general's office was sparked by a
query about whether the payment contravened local government legislation. 
The identity of the complainant has not
been revealed.
Mr Douglas resigned after nine years' service on July 23 last year. It 
was subsequently revealed he did so after the council decided not to renew his contract. 
He was on paid leave until 
November 4.
Mr Douglas is now chief executive of Moonee Valley City Council, in 
Melbourne, Australia.
Redundancy possibility for Citiworks staff
By Dene Mackenzie 

Fifteen Citiworks carpenters and painters have a week to come up with ideas on how to 
make the maintenance division more profitable or they will lose their jobs.
The staff expect to be issued with redundancy notices on May 15.
Staff met Citiworks chief executive David
Kubrycht on Monday and Dunedin city councillor Paul Hudson yesterday.
A staff member told the Otago Daily Tones yesterday the 15 staff were resigned to losing 
their
jobs. They had put forward ideas to change the way the department was 
operated in July last year, but onlysome of their ideas had been discussed or 
implemented.
Cr Hudson said in an interview there were no plans to completely close 
down Citiworks "at this stage". The board
was focused on keeping the company viable. The structure of Citiworks was 
looked at on an ongoing basis.
He was concerned but not surprised about the matters raised by staff, some 
of which which would be discussed at a
board meeting today. Citiworks had missed out on some contracts, including 
those for the council, he said. He did
not rule out the issue being resolved before next Monday
Staff told the ODT three others had left recently and set up their own 
business.
Among the tendering put on hold last week was a $1 million annual contract with 
Housing New Zealand, the staff member said.
Asked if the department was profitable at present, the staff member said 
everyone could be a bit more productive but
managers' "hands were tied".
In February, Citiworks reported a significantly improved interim profit for 
the six months ended December 31. The
before-tax profit was $241,000 ($128,000 loss in 1998) and the after-tax 
profit was $161,000 ($86,000 loss).
Cr Hudson said at the time it was always going to be a struggle for Citiworks in a 
competitive market, but it had been
successful in winning contracts in Christchurch, South Otago and Southland.

Polytech considers new course
By Blair Mayston

Otago Polytechnic's accord with three other polytechnics, entered into 
early last month, may already be bearing fruit.
The Manukau Institute of Technology has approached Otago Polytechnic to 
gauge its interest in offering its jewellery
techniques programme.
Both institutions are members of the recently formed Tertiary Accord of New 
Zealand (Tanz), with the Christchurch
Polytechnic Institute of Technology and Palmerston North's Universal
College of Learning (Ucol).
The certificate jewellery programme takes two years, working three days a 
week full-time, to complete and differs
from the jewellery diploma and degree options already offered by Otago 
Polytechnic.
In papers presented to the polytechnic council last week, Otago Polytechnic 
School of Art head Rob Garrett said the
programme filled the apprenticeships market gap and had strong links to 
the jewellery manufacturing sector.
"Otago's jewellery night class market is looking for such a course and we 
could expect to
attract students from throughout the South Island," he said.
Manukau Institute of Technology is only offering the programme to Otago 
Polytechnic and Palmerston North's Ucol.
Education services and external relations manager Ross White said after the 
meeting no decision had been made on
the offer yet.
"There is a gap in the market and, instead of going and reinventing the 
wheel, we'll look at the feasibility of running the programme here."
Mr White expected other approaches as a result of the Tanz alliance.

Time extension for institute
By Blair Mayston

The Dunedin Institute for Learning has been given some breathing space by 
the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
 In late March, the authority threatened deregistration of the institute by 
April 7 if an eight-page list of requirements was not met.
The authority has declined to say what those requirements are while the 
case is unresolved.
 But institute owner Alex Firestone said the deadline had been extended 
until May 26.
 Authority spokesman Bill Lennox said: "[The authority] is concerned that 
some of its requirements were not clearly
enough explained to the provider."
A further letter had been sent to the institute "very clearly spelling out 
the requirements and setting a new deadline for
a satisfactory response", he said.
The institute operates the 12-student Dunedin English Language School.

  More binge drinking  among youngsters
By Blair Mayston

Binge drinking by young people has increased since the drinking age was 
lowered to 18, according to the Alcohol
Advisory Council.
But it appears most young people are getting their alcohol from parents and 
friends.
A council survey of 300 children nationally, released this week, found 44% of 14 to 18-
year-olds reported having five or more drinks the last time they were drinking, up from 
34% in 1997.
"We have been surveying youth drinking for the past four years and had 
found little change until the last survey,
conducted in March," chief executive Dr Mike MacAvoy said.
When the drinking age was lowered to 18 on December 1 last year, some 
organisations, including the council, predicted underage drinking would increase.
Parents provided their children with alcohol in 54% of cases and in 52% of 
cases minors said they got alcohol from
friends.
"It is quite appropriate for parents to gradually introduce their children 
to alcohol during the teenage years but I
imagine that most parents wouldn't be so keen on friends supplying it," Dr 
MacAvoy said.
"We are talking about large amounts here - enough to make kids very drunk."
Dr MacAvoy said there was no law against parents providing their children 
with alcohol, but those supplying alcohol to
minors other than their own children were liable for prosecution.
Young people not drinking under the supervision of their parents was a big 
concern.
The survey had shown about 45% of 16 and 17-year-olds were given alcohol by 
their parents to take away and drink
unsupervised at parties, and about 10% of teenagers were given money by 
their parents to purchase alcohol to drink
away from home.
Children would be quite intoxicated once they had five drinks in a sitting, 
and the likelihood of problems such as
teenage pregnancies and car crashes increased as a result, he said.
Dr MacAvoy had no doubt children younger than 14 were also drinking alcohol 
but said it was difficult to gather
information from children under 14, as parental consent was required.
Concerned parents could call the council help-line on 0800 787 797, or 
visit its web site at www.alcohol.org.

Forum to discuss food poverty report
By Marjorie Cook

A significant proportion of New Zealand households cannot afford to eat 
properly, according to a 1999 food poverty report.
The New Zealand Network Against Food Poverty produced the Hidden Hunger Report, 
which concluded the major reason for food poverty was lack of income.
The relationship between low income and household food poverty will be 
explored by the network in Dunedin on
Friday.
More than 70 people have been invited to a forum from 1pm to 3pm at 
Healthcare Otago's public health services offices.
Healthcare Otago community dietitian Moira Styles said speakers included 
Otago University senior
nutrition lecturer Winsome Parnell, who would define "food security" and 
the results of the most recent national
nutrition survey.
Household survey results included:
 13% could afford to eat properly only sometimes.
 14% reported "food runs out because of lack of money" sometimes or often.
 27% noted that "variety of foods was limited by lack of money" sometimes 
or often.
 7% sometimes or often "relied on others" to provide food or money for food.
 Suggested actions include collecting data on foodbank usage, researching what 
constitutes an adequate income, reprinting the Hidden Hunger report and
developing alliances between health and social services.

Lower growth than forecast at polytechnic
By Blair Mayston

Ross White

The latest forecast on student numbers at Otago Polytechnic is well below 
the 9.5% growth target for this year.
However, the polytechnic still hoped to get as close to the target growth 
rate of equivalent fulltime students (efts) as it could, officials said.
 A new efts forecast, completed
last  week, showed the roll was likely to be about 0.5% ahead of last year, about 
250 efts short of the 9.5% growth to 3400 efts the polytechnic was aiming for this year.
Education services and external relations manager Ross White said the 
0.5% growth rate was based on nothing
changing during the year.
"What we're doing is having a hard look at the mid-year and we'll still 
have a fair shot at getting somewhere close to budget. . . we're still going to have a go and 
get as much as we can," he said.
The polytechnic would examine its portfolio of programmes and consider 
whether other classes could be put on at
mid-year to attract more students.
Management of spending would be examined, but Mr White said there was no intention 
of dropping existing programmes. However, "some of the things we wanted to do we 
might not be 
able to do".
Chief executive Dr Wanda Korndorffer said early last month she believed 
Otago Polytechnic should have a roll of
about 5000 efts and she believed that could be achieved within five years.

Former pool site not endorsed by council
Skate sites discussed
By David Bruce

Oamaru

Sites that could be suitable for a proposed skateboard park in Oamaru are 
to be investigated.
The former Queen Elizabeth II swimming pool site is favoured by 
skateboarders, the Waitaki Safer Community
Council and community constable Bruce Dow.
However, the Waitaki District Council's community services committee 
yesterday refused to endorse a
recommendation from senior parks officer Allen Grey that the site be 
declared available for skateboarding.
Most councillors felt a promise had been made that the pool site would 
become open green space, replacing land lost
on Takaro Park when the Waitaki indoor aquatic centre was built.
Cr Rodney Grater favoured Wairere Dell, alongside Itchen St, which was 
sheltered, warm and sunny. Any difficulties with fencing, security or lighting could be 
overcome.
However, Cr Jacqui Dean opposed a site hidden from public view.
Mayor Duncan Taylor said noise from the Wairere Dell site would affect nearby 
residents.
Skateboarders wanted a visible, central site that was easily controlled.
At a public forum before the meeting, Doug Hassler and Allen Smith warned 
there could be an outcry if the former
pool site was used for the skateboard park.
They were members of a council sub-committee that considered public 
submissions and plans for landscaping
Takaro Park and the pool site. Mr Hassler said the predominant view in 
submissions was the outdoor pool should be demolished and the area left as open green 
space.
He also understood that was a condition of a substantial grant made by the 
Community Trust of Otago for the aquatic centre.
The committee recommended council investigate alternative sites but 
committee chairwoman Elizabeth McCone said
this did not rule out the former swimming pool site.
The committee also recommended a plan for the skateboard area be prepared, 
likely costs calculated and possible
sources of funding and costs to the council identified.


Bretherton resigns chair
By Kerry Williamson

Queenstown

Queenstown Winter Marketing Group chairwoman Vicki Bretherton has 
resigned from both the group and her position as manager of Queenstown's Millennium 
Hotel.
Ms Bretherton is going into partnership with a friend who has developed a 
delicatessen and retail concept for a site in Auckland.
She expects to finish work in Queenstown early in July.
She has chaired the winter marketing group for three years and has been 
an integral board member of Destination
Queenstown.
She said yesterday she would miss the resort. "It's been a fantastic three years, I've really 
enjoyed 
it. I've met some wonderful, amazing people and
I have been very lucky to have been involved in an industry that 
contributes so much to the town."
Ms Bretherton has managed the
Millennium Hotel for about nine months. She previously managed the Heritage.
The Destination Queenstown board will meet on Friday to discuss Ms 
Bretherton's resignation.
It is likely the board will nominate someone to fill her board and 
marketing group positions until September's elections.

Full history of unusual painting a mystery

Handkerchief painting … Yvonne Cox with her unusual work of art, painted by a World 
War 2 prisoner of war.

Oamaru  
By David Bruce

A handkerchief unearthed by Oamaru woman Yvonne Cox is nothing to sneeze at.
A British scene on the handkerchief was painted in water colour by a 
British prisoner in a German camp during World War 2.
A note on the back of the painting explains its origins but Mrs Cox has 
no idea how it came to be in New Zealand, nor can she remember where she bought it.
Mrs Cox has had the painting for about 20 years.
It was painted by Captain John Briton Oldfield, of the Green Howards, in 
1945.
According to the note on the back, prisoners of war used canvas from the 
backs of chairs for their works of art.
When that ran out, parcels from the Red Cross and YMCA held the answer, 
in the form of handkerchiefs. So the
prisoners carried on painting using handkerchiefs as their canvas.
The scene in Capt Oldfield's painting is of the Goathland Foxhounds, in 
Yorkshire.
 He sent the painting to his home at Sandsend in Yorkshire, in a package made from 
several tin cans protected by sacking, according to the note.

Voting on grandstand not advised
By Vivienne Paterson

Balclutha

Some Clutha district councillors should refrain from voting on issues 
relating to the proposed new South Otago grandstand, according to a legal opinion.
The opinion from solicitor Jonathan Salter, of Wellington firm Simpson 
Grierson Law, applies to four councillors from Balclutha and to one councillor who is a 
member of the South Otago 
Agricultural and Pastoral Society.
Mr Salter said there was probably no breach of the Members Interest Act, but because 
some 
councillors had a pecuniary interest in the
grandstand, there was a risk of those councillors being seen as biased.
The councillors concerned are Crs Jeff Seymour, Brian Cadogan, Margaret 
Collins and Ken Roberts, who have all
been on a committee raising funds for the new grandstand, and Cr Dave 
Williamson, who is a member
of the South Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society which owns the present 
grandstand and wants a replacement
built.
The legal advice was sought after councillors were accused of having an 
interest in the grandstand.
Cr Seymour, who is spokesman for the fund-raising committee, said he was 
involved in the grandstand only because
he was a councillor working for something good for the district. The issue is to be 
discussed at a meeting tomorrow.

Cost of water scheme has residents fuming
By Dave Smith

Luggate

Wanaka: Proposed charges for the new Luggate water supply could fuel a 
fiery debate between ratepayers and the
Queenstown-Lakes District Council at a public meeting in the Luggate Hall 
tomorrow.
The meeting has been called by the Luggate Ratepayers Association as it 
grapples with the cost of the scheme.
Although the scheme has yet to be commissioned, the council has told 
ratepayers they will each be billed about
$3685.
In a letter to residents, the council said ratepayers could make a 
one-off payment of "approximately" $3685 or choose a loan repayment option of  
"approximately" $415 a year per water connection, for 15 years. The option is based on 
7.5% interest rate.
If ratepayers take the lump sum option, they can pay three $1321.67 
instalments in the next rating year.
However, according to a letter to individual ratepayers this month, the 
lump sum repayments have dropped to
$1228.33 each instalment.
But it appears ratepayers taking that option could be faced with a 10% 
penalty charge which "may be applied
cumulatively" until the full amount owing is paid.
The council has taken $122,500 from the Wanaka land sales account, plus $27,529 from 
the sale of a council-owned section in Luggate, to reduce the estimated project cost from 
$492,750 to $342,721.
On top of the capital cost, ratepayers will face an annual charge of $450 per connection. 
However, association
chairman Malcolm Key understands the scheme running costs could be 
between $80 and $280 annually.
Mr Key said there were around 100 permanent residents in Luggate and 
about 100 rateable properties.
He said the 7pm meeting in the hall could be a "bun fight" as residents 
discussed the issue, as it would make
Luggate rates comparable to Wanaka's.

Small group hears policy
By Dave Smith

Wanaka

Judging by the attendance, Wanaka property developers appear comfortable 
with proposed changes to the
Queenstown-Lakes District Council's financial contributions policy for 
future residential developments.
Only three property developers attended the Wanaka meeting last night, when 
the council outlined the proposed
charging regime.
The proposed charges, relating to wastewater, drinking water, roading and 
reserve contributions, were outlined by
council assets manager Ken Gousmett and consultant Edward Guy in Queenstown 
on Monday night.
The list presented only applied to future residential development and Mr 
Gousmett said differentials were being
worked on for non-residential development.

Taste of life as politician
By Dianne King

Alexandra: Central Otago secondary school students will have an opportunity 
to test life in Parliament later this year. 
Otago MP Gavan Herlihy has invited one student to represent secondary 
schools from the Central Otago District
Council area in Youth Parliament on August 29 and 30.
Interviews to select the student will be held on May 29. Applicants must be 
eligible to vote in the 2002 elections and
must provide a one-page curriculum vitae and complete a 100-word statement 
on why they wish to be an MP for two
days.
During the trip to the Beehive, the student parliamentarians will sit on select committees, 
ask ministers questions and debate in the House.

Grant not carried over
By David Bruce

Oamaru: A $5000 grant for this year's
Oamaru stone carving symposium cannot be carried over as seeding finance for the next 
one, the Waitaki District Council's finance committee decided yesterday.
However, the committee recommended the 2002 council give "most favourable" 
consideration to an application for
seeding finance of $5000 from the symposium's organisers.
The council set aside $5000 from its economic development fund for this 
year's symposium but organisers did not
need it.

Community health trusts co-operating
By Marjorie Cook

Otago and Southland community health trusts have met health officials and 
set up two working parties to explore
changes to the health system.
Southern Regional Rural Health Trusts, representing 12 community-based trusts, met 
officials from the Health Funding Authority, the Ministry of Health and Healthcare Otago 
in Balclutha on Monday.
Regional trusts spokeswoman Julene McCorkindale said yesterday discussions centred on 
the Government's primary health care discussion document and the proposed 22 district 
health boards.
More than 35 people attended the meeting.
Trust representatives were mainly. volunteers and needed access to health 
officials, she said. 
At the meeting trust representatives highlighted key concerns about 
health changes but Mrs McCorkindale would not reveal the concerns because she thought 
it would be "scaremongering".
There were positive things about the changes, which she did not want to 
lose sight of.
They included the willingness of the organisations to work together to 
bring about the changes.
"That's a key strength. There's an environment of information sharing," 
she said.
A working party would work through the concerns and prepare submissions to send to the 
Government by the end of the month.
A second working party would work on a proposal for a rural health field 
service liaising between the trusts, health
officials and district health boards.
Mrs McCorkindale said the health officials indicated on Monday they would like to see 
the field service proposal, but did not make any commitment to it.

Power company directors sought
By Dianne King

Cromwell: The Otago Central Electric Power Trust, owner of Pioneer 
Generation, is seeking interest in the positions of directors for its energy company.
Pioneer Generation owns and operates the generation assets of former power 
company Central Electric Ltd, which
sold its retail and lines businesses following electricity industry 
restructuring.
Present directors were eligible to stand. for re-election but the trust was 
exercising its right that appointment should not be constrained to the incumbents, 
chairman Peter Mead said.
The present directors are chairman Max Naylor, a company director of 
Queenstown; investment consultant Linton Byfield, formerly of Queenstown, now of 
Auckland; Allan Kane, a Wanaka farmer; and company director John Nichol, of 
Christchurch.

Importance of silt removal stressed
By Dianne King

Alexandra: The Alexandra Flood Action group has support for its demand that 
a permanent solution to the flooding of
Alexandra must include removing silt from Lake Roxburgh, according to 
chairman Bob Kilgour.
Representatives from the Alexandra Residents and Ratepayers Group, Central 
Otago Grey Power and the Central
Otago Chamber of Commerce joined the action group's meeting last week, he 
said.
They "unanimously" agreed silt removal should be included in any proposals 
to provide Alexandra with permanent
flood protection.
About 25 people attended the meeting, including Malcolm Macpherson from the
Future Directions working party.
Those at the meeting also believed an economic package addressing 
compensation and property values was needed to reinstate confidence in the town. Such a 
package should be included in the report of Clutha Solutions co-ordinator
Alex Adams, Mr Kilgour said.
The action group would not make any further comment until Optimx Ltd's 
detailed report on the future direction of
Alexandra was publicly available, he said.
The draft of the report, which is to be presented to the Government, is to 
be considered by Alexandra Community
Board members and the working party today.
The report will be open for Public submission for 20 working days from 
Monday.

Following in grandmother's and mother's footsteps
By Sally Rae

Family affair … Highland dancer Kendyll Taylor with her mother Phillipa and 
grandmother Carol Selfe.

Oamaru: When Kendyll Taylor (5) laces up her dancing pumps and dons her 
kilt at the Oamaru Performing Arts
Society's festival this week, she will be continuing a family tradition.
Kendyll's mother, Phillipa Taylor, her grandmother, Carol Selfe, and three 
of her aunts have all danced at the festival.
Mrs Selfe said she was sent to take up dancing more than 50 years ago on a 
doctor's advice, because she would not
eat.
In those days, there were more than 30 entries in each class.
Mrs Selfe's four daughters, Phillipa, Jenny, Catherine and Jacqui, all danced, and Jacqui's 
daughter, Tannah (4), is also learning Highland dancing.
Mrs Taylor remembered being one of
eight children squashed into a station wagon with two parents, leaving for 
Dunedin at 6am to attend competitions.
Dancing was traditionally followed by a hamburger at Big Daddy's in the 
Octagon.
Her mother recalled the busy Friday nights when she had to make lunches, 
pack clothes for four daughters and clean
four pairs of jig shoes and four pairs of pumps.
"The place looked like a centipede with shoes all around the floor," she said.
Kendyll has already danced in competitions at Waimate and Temuka and is looking 
forward to taking part in the performing arts society's 63rd annual festival at the Oamaru 
Opera House, 
from Friday night to Sunday night.

Road to happiness
By David Bruce

Oamaru: The upgrading of Kaik Rd to the Waitaki River mouth was an 
excellent example of what could be achieved
through community partnerships, Waitaki Mayor Duncan Taylor said yesterday.
The road, used by anglers and whitebaiters to get from the end of the 
sealed part of' Kaik Rd to the river, was
upgraded earlier this year by the Central South Island Fish and Game 
Council.
It was reformed and metalled, removing potholes and puddles that had 
spurred complaints for years.
The district council's works and services committee recommended yesterday 
the council take over responsibility for
maintaining the road. It will also thank all those involved in the 
upgrading.
Infrastructural assets manager Mark Yaxley said the road now met 
appropriate standards for a local access road and
would meet Transfund funding criteria for maintenance.
- Whitestone Trust: Jan Omnett and Dennis Norman have been recommended as 
council representatives on the
Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust.
Mr Norman is chairman of the
trust and a council representative. Mrs Omnett has been appointed to 
replace Paul Anderson, who has left Oamaru,
 Thames St paving: "Stretching the dollar as far as possible" was one of 
the reasons for delaying paving the eastern portion of southern Thames St, Mr Yaxley 
said yesterday.
The work is part of upgrading the Oamaru town centre. Already kerbing, 
channelling, new water and stormwater
drains are being laid.
But paving contractors have plenty of work until the end of the financial 
year next month and Mr Yaxley said
extending the deadline for the paving meant the council would get the best 
prices for the work.
 Hall trust: A request from the Waitaki Bridge Hall Trust for the council 
to waive a $180 bill for building fees was declined by the finance and administration 
committee.
The fees related to an extension to the west end of the hall. The trust 
said the hall was not funded by rates, but relied
on hire, donations and voluntary work.
Cr David Williamson said $46,000 had been spent upgrading the hall over 
the past 10 years without any help from
the council, apart from the standard 50% rates rebate.

Sewerage smell investigated
By David Bruce

Oamaru: The Waitaki District Council is investigating how odour from the 
Oamaru sewerage scheme can be reduced.
A 32-signature petition organised by resident Sam Rowland and sent to the 
Otago Regional Council asked for details
of the resource consent granted to the Waitaki District Council, whether 
a condition covering odour was enforced, how
often monitoring was carried out and what the district council was 
required to do if the plant smelt.
The regional council's manager of resource administration, Marian Weaver, 
told the residents there was no air
discharge permit for the Oamaru plant.
When the resource consent was granted in 1993, there was no requirement 
for an air discharge permit.
However, a plant like Oamaru's would require an air discharge permit in 
the future, she said.
There was a clause that no significant odour or other aerial
emission should occur which caused a nuisance at the boundary of the 
plant.
The district council provided effluent monitoring readings to the 
regional council at monthly and quarterly intervals, and
the site was regularly visited by a compliance officer.
The regional council had records of four of the 32 signatories on the 
petition lodging complaints about smell, and
would like to hear from all those affected at the time they were bothered 
by odour.
"Information from residents living nearby about the intensity and 
frequency of odour is important, as we cannot have an officer on the site all the time," Ms 
Weaver said.
A consultant had been engaged by the district council to investigate the smell, she said.
Early indications were it could be caused by gas from a build up of sludge in the sludge 
ditch, or off-loading of septic
tank waste by commercial operators.
 
Decision on name
By Sally Rae

Oamaru: The pronunciation of Fenwick Primary School in Oamaru will be "Fennick".
 The combined boards of trustees of
Awamoa and Oamaru South schools
decided the pronunciation of the new
school's name should accurately portray
the family after whom it was named, chairmen Mark Julius and Graham Kitchin said 
yesterday.
When the name was chosen, the boards did not know the correct Scottish 
pronunciation. Once it was pointed out,
the boards considered the issue, Mr Julius said.
Yesterday, North Otago branch president of the Historic Places Trust 
Rodney Grater welcomed the decision. Fenwick was a name closely associated with the 
development of pastoral Otago and it should continue to be known by its
correct pronunciation.

Council support for proposal
By David Bruce

Oamaru: A separate constituency to elect a representative to the Environment Canterbury 
council has the support of
the Waitaki District Council.
Yesterday, the council's finance committee decided it would make a 
submission on the proposal from the former Canterbury Regional Council.
The new Waitaki constituency would cover the Mackenzie and Waimate 
districts, and the part of the Waitaki district (the upper Waitaki Valley) which is in the 
Canterbury region.
At present, people in those three districts are in a South Canterbury 
constituency, which elects two councillors.
Under the proposal, South Canterbury, covering the Timaru district, would 
elect one councillor.
Cr Struan Munro said the proposal would, at the very least, ensure a 
representative from the Waimate, Mackenzie and Waitaki districts on the council. Given 
Timaru's population, it could have been possible for both councillors to come from the 
city.
Waitaki Mayor Duncan Taylor said the new constituency would ensure there 
was a rural representative on
Environment Canterbury's council.
He warned support for the new constituency did not necessarily mean the district 
supported part of its area remaining in Canterbury.
However, he said it did mean Environment Canterbury had recognised a concern that had 
been raised before the
Local Government Commission during hearings on the regional boundary.

Untidy properties spoil town entrance
By Dianne King

Concerned Becks resident Clair Higginson stands by an abandoned fruit sign in paddocks 
beside Manuherikia Rd at the eastern entrance to Alexandra.

Alexandra: Unkempt properties along Manuherikia Rd on Alexandra's eastern 
boundary are a disgrace for a town that
won a Keep New Zealand Beautiful award last year, a Becks woman believes.
Clair Higginson told the Central Otago District Council committee hearing 
annual plan submissions the road, State
Highway 85, needed urgent attention.
Flood-prone land along Manuherikia Rd was taken over by Contact Energy and the 
Crown in settlement deals with residents after floods of December 1995.
Since then, vegetation has grown out of control, piles of rubble remain 
where houses were removed, former orchards are neglected, and rotten apples lie on the 
ground.
Two dilapidated houses that remain on the upper side of the road have 
broken windows.
Ms Higginson said yesterday, the entrance was being treated as a "back 
door" to Alexandra and was a stark contrast
to the attractive southern and northern entrances from State Highway 8.
Ms Higginson, co-owner of the White Horse Hotel at Becks, said many 
travellers used State Highway 85, travelling
over the Pigroot to the Maniototo and on to Alexandra. Their first sight 
of Alexandra must give the impression people
were not interested in the town, she said.
"At a time when they're talking about redeveloping the town after the '99 
floods, it's timely to look at this unsightly
area. Perhaps it could be incorporated into a public green space
with picnic tables," she said.
 Keep Alexandra-Clyde Beautiful president Denis Cronin
said the group wrote to Linz,
which manages the Crown land
along the Manuherikia River, last year and the inquiry was handed on to Opus 
International, managers on behalf of
Linz.  
The group was asked to identify the area, which they did. They had offered to have an 
on-site meeting, but there had been no response to the offer.
"We were told some land had a grazing lease and, although the orchard was 
not leased at the time, the intention was
to lease the property in conjunction with Contact, which owned orchard 
land on the other side of the road," Mr Cronin said.
Yesterday, Murray Mackenzie, of Linz Property Management in Christchurch, said he 
was unable to 
comment until Ms Higginson provided him with a
map identifying the properties 
that concerned her.
Contact Energy Ltd communications manager Bruce Thompson said the 
company was aware
of community concerns. He confirmed the two houses and land on the upper 
side of the road were owned by Contact.
Tenders to remove the houses were being called and the issue would be 
solved by the end of next month.
"Ultimately, we want to dispose of the land to the Crown," Mr Thompson said.

News digest
Hillside warning
While the hillside above Frankton Rd is "marginally stable" after slipping last year, there 
is a good chance of future movement, according to an engineer contracted by the 
Earthquake Commission.
Details – p3
Flood concern
Some business owners in Queenstown are unhappy over Queenstown-Lakes District 
Council "inaction" on flood protection. However, council chief executive Duncan Field 
says if businesses want better protection they will have to pay for it.
Report – p11
Department sorry
The Department of Work and Income has apologised to University of Otago students 
after removing money from their bank accounts without informing them. Students 
affected collected the community wage during summer and were overpaid about $150 at 
the beginning of the year because of confusion over the start of the university year.
Full report – p5
Medical crisis
The exodus of medical graduates overseas is at crisis point with hospital health services 
facing cuts if the situation is not brought under control, national Resident Doctors 
Association president Dr Murray Govan says.
Details – p4

Cherry growers expect rich pickings
By David Bruce

Oamaru: Between 7000 and 8000 new cherry trees will be planted later this year in a bid 
to make North Otago one of the premier growing areas in New Zealand.
The venture, which already involves 85 people, is the brainchild of Fred Fields, who 
moved to North Otago about 15 months ago and has developed a new method of growing 
cherries and other crops.
He already has 3000 cherry trees growing on his property using the method.
The plants are grown in bags and controlled in such a way to produce maximum amounts 
of quality fruit rather than too much timber and leaves. This provides higher returns in a 
shorter time. Trees planted this year would be in almost full production in their third year, 
he said.
The aim was to ensure trees produced quality fruit, rather than quantity, and at varying 
times to suit market demands, such as early crops and for the Chinese New Year. Returns 
could be as high as $150,000 a hectare.
He is enthusiastic about the
Continued on page 3

Inquiry over soon
By Gail Goodger

The investigation into the leaking of confidential information about former Dunedin City 
Council chief executive Murray Douglas' resignation should be completed within a 
month.
The standing orders committee would make its findings public, Mayor Sukhi Turner said 
when approached yesterday.
Cr Syd Brown called in September for an investigation into the origins of information 
obtained by the Otago Daily Times about elected members' private discussions 
surrounding Mr Douglas' contract renewal. Cr Brown was concerned the leak placed all 
councillors' integrity in jeopardy.
Mr Douglas resigned last July after the council decided not to renew his contract.

High flying … Dunedin creative wood craftsman Richard Leckie with his large kea 
sculpture, commissioned by Natural History New Zealand for its reception area.

Recruitment drive pays off
By Simon Hartley

Colleen Coop

Healthcare Otago recruitment overseas for mental health nurses has 
surpassed all expectations.
Mental health manager Dr Colleen Coop said negotiations were under way with 
16 overseas nurses.
Healthcare Otago recently entered a two-year, $60,000 contract with an 
Auckland recruitment firm and had advertised 20 vacancies worldwide.
One overseas nurse started work at Wakari Hospital yesterday, two were 
completing immigration formalities, five
were considering offers and yesterday "tentative" offers were made to three 
English and five Scottish nurses
interested in working in Dunedin.
Dr Coop said Dunedin's shortages were caused by in-patient staff moving to 
community jobs, nurses going overseas
for experience and higher pay, and a mental health work stigma which did 
not attract career-minded graduates.
She speculated the good response was due to recruiters targeting 
Anglo-Saxon countries where New Zealand's culture was seen as a drawcard.
Healthcare Otago employed 380 fulltime equivalent mental health workers, and
has a budget for 391.
Dr Coop said the contracts ranged from one or two years to permanent 
appointments.
Healthcare Otago had a clause in its recruitment contract to extend the 
initial number of 20 vacancies to include more over a two-year period.
"Our first choice is graduates from New Zealand schools and we want to pick 
up some at the end of the year," she
said.
Low staff numbers and safety concerns last month prompted Healthcare Otago 
to reduce the number of beds at
Wakari Hospital's medium secure ward 9A from 13 to nine. At the time the 
ward was working beyond its capacity of
13.
Healthcare Otago chief executive Bill Adam described the four-bed closure 
as a "last resort" and a "desperate"
measure.
Yesterday, Dr Coop said a review to reinstate the four beds would be done 
this week and she was "reasonably confident" they could be back in service again by next 
month or August, as planned.
New staff would work in several of Healthcare Otago's mental health wards.

Money goes to reserve
By David Bruce
Oamaru

A proposed $100,000 contribution to the Waitaki District Council's $1.7 
million disaster relief contingency fund will not be included in the 2000-01 budget.
The money, which was to come from a predicted $138,000 dividend from the 
council-owned roading company,
Whitestone Roading, has gone into the general reserve fund.
The money can be allocated later in the financial year to whatever the 
council wishes, including the disaster fund.
The disaster fund was set up to provide a financial buffer for flooding or other climatic 
disasters, and allow the council
to repair damage immediately it occurs.
Cr Elizabeth McCone said the $100,000 would bring limited benefit for the 
district if put into the disaster fund.
The fund earned an average $100,000 a year in interest.
She wanted to see the money go into the general reserve fund, where it 
could be used to reduce borrowing.
Cr Struan Munro opposed diverting the money from the disaster fund.
Repairs to extensive flood damage in 1987 cost more than the fund now held 
and he felt there should be at least $2
million, and possibly as much as $5 million, at the ready.
Cr Brian McCabe questioned why money should be put into an already healthy fund 
when the council had urgent problems to address.
Finance committee chairman Bruce Albiston said the council could ensure the disaster 
fund continued to build and, if it wished, later transfer the $100,000 from general 
reserves.

Draft job  description
Alexandra
By Dianne King

A draft job description for a Central Otago District Council development 
officer will be available next week, the
council's economic development committee was told on Tuesday.
An increased development budget of $130,000, including the officer's 
salary, was approved at the council's annual plan meeting last month.
Council chief executive Steve Green and policy officer Sarah Cook are 
writing the job description. Ms Cook said the draft would be available next week.
The committee agreed to put $496 towards a Fundview database which will 
detail funding sources for community
groups.

Glitch for opera house
By David Bruce
Oamaru

A proposal to upgrade the main theatre in the Oamaru Opera House has been 
delayed, in spite of a warning it might
be closed.
Opera house operators Heather and Lex Williams put forward a $130,000 
plan to upgrade the theatre, and wanted it included in the council's 2000-01 annual plan 
and budget. The council 
declined the request when it considered its budget on Tuesday.
Mayor Duncan Taylor said the proposal differed considerably from the 
second stage of upgrading planned by the council.
Mr and Mrs Williams, who lease and manage the opera house in a joint 
venture with the council had invested their
own money as part of the first stage development. Their suggested second 
stage involved developing the main theatre
for movies and live shows, and as a conference and events centre.
 Some councillors suggested property owners in Oamaru should pay a new 
rate for maintaining the opera house and
possibly the Waitaki Community Recreation Centre.
Cr Struan Munro said the whole district would not mind paying a portion 
of the costs for both facilities because they were district assets. However, some should 
also be paid by Oamaru people, 
through a hall rate.
Mayor Duncan Taylor felt a rate could be established for the opera house, 
but he was not sure the recreation centre
would fit the legal definitions of a hall. This was something the rating 
review working party should look at.

Groups call for funding
By Marjorie Cook

An Otago Pacific Island health group will ask the Government for more 
resources following the announcement of an
extra $1.51 million funding for Pacific Islander health.
Mrs King said yesterday the money would be used to reinstate the Pacific 
Island Provider Development Fund this
year. She also guaranteed future funding.
Tangata Pasifika Social Support Services spokeswoman Vaine Hoskings of 
Dunedin said yesterday she would now
write to Health Minister Annette King "because we want a bite of the cake".
Carla Papahadjis, the chairwoman of a separate Dunedin group, the Pacific 
Islands Community Health Services Trust, could not be contacted for comment 
yesterday.
Ministry of Health communications adviser Frances Ross said
yesterday it would not be known if Otago Pacific health services would 
get some of the new money until after August 15.
 The Pacific Island provider
development scheme was initiated by the previous government with a one-off allocation 
of $1 million.  
The scheme aimed to help Pacific Island communities to identify their 
own health problems and manage their own
solutions.
Mrs Hoskings said Tangata Pasifika was involved when the scheme was first 
established and she was among many
managers invited to a leadership workshop in Wellington.
She has already written to Mrs King asking for clarification on how 
Pacific Island groups would work with new district
health boards, which will eventually hold regional health budgets.

Home no fishing lodge 
By Vivienne Paterson

The story of a house that has been built on Waipori Cemetery reserve is 
turning into a tangled saga.
The Otago Daily Times discovered yesterday that the application and 
building consent for a double-storeyed house, built to replace a holiday home razed by 
fire in January, described the 
building as a "fishing lodge and
accommodation for members of the Waipori Fishing Club".
No such club exists and Kelvin Read, from one of the four families who 
jointly own the building, said the name was
used by another member of one of the four families.
"It was just a silly thing to write. I can assure you that this is not a 
club. It is not affiliated to anything else.
"It [the house] will be used only as holiday accommodation for my family 
and that of Murray Adam, Ian Clarke and
John Livingstone, who all had an interest in the building that burned 
down in January," Mr Read said.
The Clutha District Council's regulatory committee will have to decide 
today whether the building application is still
legal, given that the description is inaccurate.
Permission for the building was granted, in the first instance, by 
Michael Horgan, who was believed to be the only surviving trustee of the cemetery.
Mr Horgan has since resigned his trusteeship and gone to Australia. His 
departure is unrelated to the row over the
new dwelling, which erupted after he left.
Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board member Graeme Cotton said he was 
appointed a cemetery trustee by the old
Tuapeka County Council. As he had never resigned, he said he would still 
have a say on whether the house should
remain or be removed.
Some residents and the majority of members of the community board want 
the house removed. They say it should
not have been built on the cemetery reserve and it "intimidates" people 
visiting the cemetery.

Memorial night recreates tavern
Queenstown
By David Williams

Eichardt's Tavern is gone but its memory will live on, with a special event 
at the Queenstown Winter Festival.
The tavern, badly affected by last November's floods, is now being turned 
into a retail development and boutique bar.
Former publicans John and Ann Mann, of Lake Hayes, will host the 
"Eichardt's Memorial Social" at the Queenstown Memorial Hall, on July 15.
The Eichardt's menu will be resurrected, many of the former staff will be 
on deck and unused promotional specials will be redeemable.
"On the day we closed [November 18] we were meant to have a mid-year Irish 
party and we'd sent out green Eich
Marks to give $1 off beer ... They're still, not literally, floating around 
town," Mrs Mann said.
The hall will be decorated with Eichardt's memorabilia to recreate the 
tavern's atmosphere and the Manns are
appealing for anyone with items from their pub to bring them along.
Much of the furniture was ruined in the flood and only two leaners remain. 
The pool table was given to some of the
tavern's regulars.
"You may have to book a time on those leaners," Mrs Mann joked.

Violent theft
Queenstown
By David Williams

Queenstown: A shop assistant was slapped by one of two men who stole 
chocolate bars from a Queenstown grocery store early yesterday.
A police spokeswoman said two Caucasian males, aged about 19 or 20, went to leave 
without paying.
When the shop assistant followed them, one of the men slapped her in the 
face, the spokeswoman said.

To monitor motorists' speed
By David Bruce
Oamaru

Further surveys will be carried out at the southern end of Hampden on State 
Highway 1 to see if motorists are
ignoring new speed restrictions.
Transit NZ has upgraded the highway through the town after fatal accidents 
involving pedestrians in recent years.
Work has included bulbous kerbs, safer crossing points for pedestrians and a painted 
median strip.
But the new speed restriction, particularly at the southern end, is upsetting some 
Hampden residents.  
The limit through the town from boundary to boundary used to be 70kmh. Now, 
there is an 80kmh speed limit on the
northern and southern approaches, with 60kmh in the centre of town.
However, residents at the south end of Hampden feel traffic is still too 
fast.
Transit conducted surveys at five sites spread through the town at Queen's 
Birthday weekend but Hampden resident
Mick Roberston felt they missed a vital area.
"We accept that speeds have come down substantially in the main part of 
town," he said yesterday.
"We wanted them to survey between the boundary and the Little Kuri Creek 
bridge. That's where the problem is."
Transit NZ's coastal highways manager, Murray Clarke, said yesterday that a 
further survey would be carried out in
that area before any decisions were made about speed limits or further work.

Everest ascent abandoned
By Dave Smith and NZPA
Wanaka

Brede Arkless

Twizel-based climber Brede Arkless has been forced to abandon her attempt as the oldest 
woman to climb Mount
Everest.
Mrs Arkless (60) had reached 8500m on the 8850m mountain when she became 
severely ill from altitude sickness.
Her two daughters Cath and Sarah, living in Wanaka, told the Otago Daily 
Times yesterday their mother had halted the climb last week and was now off the 
mountain, heading back to her 
second home, in Wales.
Cath Arkless said her Irish-born mother had always loved the mountains and 
had started climbing in Scotland and
Wales when she was 15.
She had then trained as a guide with her
husband Geoff before they started their own guiding business.
The mother of eight moved to New Zealand in 1990 and established a guiding base at 
Twizel, where Cath and
 Sarah attended Twizel Area school.
 Cath said her mother had spent a lot of time with London's inner city children and took a 
group to Everest base camp last year.
 "She broke her wrist and a couple of ribs last February while guiding on
 Mount Cook, but it did not prevent her attempting her latest climb on Everest," she said.
She was sure her mother would be "bitterly disappointed" at her failure.

Freezing works return to normal
By David Bruce
Pukeuri

The Alliance Group's Pukeuri freezing works will be back to normal today, 
as will the PPCS Finegand plant, following a two-day strike by Government 
veterinarians.
The works did not operate on Tuesday or yesterday. At Pukeuri, about 165 workers on 
the beef killing 
chain, lamb boning room and in the freezer were affected.
The veterinarians took industrial action after pay talks broke down last 
week between Maf and the National Union of Public Employees.
Mr Plew said other staff affected by the strike would still receive their 
minimum weekly pay. They would have received
considerably more had they been working.
Mr Plew said he had not been notified of any further industrial action by 
veterinarians.

IN BRIEF  
$500 donation
Wanaka: Sales of the Upper Clutha Herb Society's herb book will benefit 
Wanaka Wastebusters by $500.
Rose competing
Queenstown: Teacher Anna McIntyre (24) will take part in the New Zealand 
Rose of Tralee final in Auckland on
Saturday night. Ms McIntyre won the Otago contest in March.
Collective agreed
Wellington: Area school principals can have a collective employment 
contract following a settlement yesterday
between unions and the Ministry of Education.
The New Zealand Educational Institute and Post Primary Teachers 
Association said they would recommend their area school principal members ratify the 
settlement which gives them a 
collective employment contract and
supplementary funding in their base pay. - NZPA
Rodeo venue
Wanaka: The Wanaka Rodeo Club has won the right to host the New Zealand 
national finals at Easter.
Allergy supporters
Oamaru: A support group for people with allergies has been set up in 
Oamaru.
Fiona Newlands and Ann Van Eck have been appointed co-ordinators for the 
North Otago branch of the Allergy
Awareness Association.
They plan a public meeting on July 11 between 9.30am and 11am in St 
Paul's Church hall.
Ball called off
Oamaru: A Cinderella ball to mark the end of Oamaru's old hospital and 
the beginning of the new has been called off.
The ball, planned for Saturday night, clashed with two other events in 
Oamaru and was struggling to attract enough numbers, organiser Odette Marris said.
An open day at the new hospital and health forum is being held on Saturday, along with 
the annual celebrity debate.
People who had bought tickets for the ball would be reimbursed.
Nominate a citizen
Oamaru: Nominations for the Waitaki district's citizens' awards open on 
June 12.
The annual awards recognise people in the community who, by personal 
inspiration, leadership, sacrifice or devotion,
have made a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the district and 
its citizens.
Nomination forms can be collected from Waitaki District Council, Waihemo 
Service Centre or Kurow Community
Centre.
Nominations close on Friday, July 14, and will be presented at a special 
council meeting on September 26.

Mountain safety promoted 
By Dave Smith
Wanaka

Robyn Gordon

Robyn Gordon is the first to acknowledge kids need challenges.
But the Wairarapa mother of James Gordon (18), who was killed in an 
avalanche in Japan in February, wants to put
the safety message across to young snowboarders.
Armed with a snow shovel, rescue probe, two emergency transceivers and a 
satchel-full of avalanche information, Mrs Gordon was in Wanaka yesterday talking to 
Mount Aspiring College students 
about what had happened to her son
and his two friends and how others could avoid it happening to them.
She had "picked on Wanaka" to get the safety message across because the 
town had been hit hard by mountain
tragedies in recent times.
However, she could not devote all her energy to promoting safety nationally 
until her son was found and returned
home for burial.
Her main focus was to have "people at the top" reinforce the safety message 
and promote avalanche awareness.
She had support from the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, but funding 
was a problem.
"I would like to see transceivers, probes and spades part of compulsory 
equipment for snowboarders," she said.
For $3000, snowboarders could buy a board, boots, helmet, transceiver, 
probe, spade and courses.
"Compare that to $6000 for the
same equipment plus a funeral. It is quite a cheap investment."
Last year Mrs Gordon gave up teaching after 28 years, but as a physical 
education teacher she acknowledged
knowing nothing about avalanches or transceivers.
"The kids want the challenges. They just have to prepare themselves for 
self-survival so they come home at night," Mrs Gordon said.
She also believed manufacturers and magazines had a responsibility to 
promote safety.
"They portray snowboarders living on the edge, but don't show the safety 
equipment many of them carry."
Mrs Gordon will speak to Wakatipu High School students today, before 
heading to Dunedin.
Footnote: Only two of the five sports and snow equipment outlets in Wanaka 
stock transceivers.

All set to win by a whistle
By Carmen Hall

Stoney Creek Station is alive with the sound of barking dogs and whistles 
at the New Zealand sheep dog trialing
championship.
A sea of gumboots, woolly hats and oilskin jackets merges with an army of 
four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Dogs of every description peer eagerly from wire cages, waiting their chance to get on to 
the course and prove themselves.
These are no run-of-the-mill pets; these are working dogs - the best in New 
Zealand.
Their owners are passionate about their sport. The odd joke is shared here 
and there, but these people are deadly
serious when it comes to dog trialing.
 Many of them distance themselves
from the crowd before they have to
compete. You see them lost deep in
thought, spending time with their
canine, psyching themselves up, pre-
paring mentally for the challenge ahead.
Some dogs sense the impending task and find it hard to sit still. With eyes 
focused on the course, they whimper and
whine.
The bond between themselves and their master is sealed. They have come from 
all over New Zealand, these dog
trialists.
The ultimate enemy is a four-legged woolly creature,
with a stubborn streak to boot. Everyone knows skill and a bit of luck will 
separate the winners from the losers.
It's anybody's game and at the moment the sheep hold the upper hand.

Alexandra businessman John Feron outside his lower Tarbert St business 
where he has renewed his lease for six years. In the background, on the right, is the 
Bendigo Hotel and behind the poplar trees the bank drops down to the Clutha River.

Lease deal shows confidence
By Dianne King 
Alexandra

An Alexandra businessman, John Feron, is so confident in the future of 
lower Tarbert St as a business  centre he
has renewed his lease for six years.
He is also so expanding the floor-space
and leasing the empty building next door, something he could not have 
foreseen after last November's floods,
which came within centimetres of his store.
He and his wife Denice had owned the business for just two months.
In September, after searching for a viable business, the couple took over 
the electrical appliance shop, having moved
to Alexandra for the lifestyle
and the quality of life for their children.
The flood forced removal of all the goods from the store, which had the advantage of 
allowing a 
complete redesign of the floor layout.
The Optimx report on the future strategy for Alexandra, with the purchase 
of flood-affected buildings, relocation of
some businesses and flood protection, has boosted Mr Feron's confidence. 
He backs the proposed new
Southern Gateway for Alexandra but believes both sides of Limerick St 
should be retained for business development, as well as the lower end of Tarbert St.
 He favours Alexandra
accountant Russell Ibbotson's
alternative plan of reduced
landscaping, which includes
flood-protection terracing and redevelopment of the lower Tarbert St and Limerick St 
area.
The business area proposal and another to retain the existing Centennial Pool on elevated 
ground at its present site require 
engineering and technical investigation.
Mr Feron admits he could be seen as taking a punt but believes from 
positive feedback from the Optimx report, business group meetings and the community, 
that lower Tarbert St will 
remain a business centre.
Business had exceeded expectations and expansion was needed, he said.

Fashion for the new millennium ... Otago Polytechnic student Sally Ewing 
shows a selection of garments produced
by second-year fashion and design students during their apparel marketing 
and manufacturing project.

Designs on the market
By Jocelyn Stirling

Second-year fashion and design diploma students from the Otago Polytechnic 
School of Fashion have worked closely
with Dunedin clothing retailers on an apparel marketing and manufacturing 
project which has just been completed.
Lecturer Tracy Kennedy said the assignment involved producing garments for 
specific target markets.
"The students had to complete a business plan, market research, 
merchandising and presentation, as well as design
development, material selection and the manufacture of a small range of 
sample garments."
She said the input of local people in the fashion industry was vital for 
the project.
"We asked local designers, retailers and business people to give talks and 
advice about the realities of business and
inspiration for the future.
"Retailers will also give constructive criticism now the project has been 
completed."
The designs can be viewed in the foyer of the School of Fashion, in 
Tennyson St, during office hours.

Dog far from run of mill
By Craig Marshall

Wendy Schmidt and friends

Training a sheepdog on a treadmill might seem a little bit strange, but not 
to dog trialist Joanne Prouting, and Mister, above.
Miss Prouting, of Pukeuri, competing at the national dog trials in Gore, 
puts Mister on a treadmill because it is too
dark after work to run safely on the roads. She bought the treadmill after 
seeing greyhounds trained the same way.
The first challenge seemed to be to get Mister on to it but it was not a 
problem. The dog really enjoyed it, Miss Prouting said.
She began to compete seriously four years ago when she saw how good Mister 
could be.
Although they were out of the running in the long head competition this 
year, the national championship was still an
experience not to be missed, she said.  
The course was testing and she was pleased to have completed it.
Miss Prouting intends to compete again at a national championships next 
year and she will have Mister right by her side.

Groups welcome crackdown on burglary
By Jocelyn Stirling

Dunedin organisations  have welcomed the Government's provision of $14 
million over the next three years to crack
down on burglaries.
Dunedin Victim Support Group chairman Dennis Kerr said any step that 
helped cut back the number of burglaries
was good.  Victim Support dealt with some very distressed people whose 
homes had
been burgled, he said.
"It's like a death in the family, particularly among people who have not 
had it happen to them before.''
Grey Power Otago president Norman Semple said his organisation has been 
calling for stronger measures to combat
burglars.
"Many older people feel very insecure in their own homes, so any extra 
funding to stamp out burglaries has to be
good and not just
for older people - for everyone."
Mr Semple would also like to see the Government introducing harsher 
penalties.
"We need a deterrent so criminals don't go back to a home the second 
time."
He said he had noticed cases where burglaries were committed "to order".
"Some burglars are taking items for a specific market so it's important to kill the market 
as well."
The Government's measure includes DNA testing of burglary suspects, 
education and security measures to prevent
repeat victimisation.
Justice Minister Phil Goff has indicated there would be law changes to 
toughen up on burglary and make it harder for
burglars to sell stolen goods.

News Digest
Smaller casino
Queenstown Casinos Ltd has reduced the number of gaming tables it plans to operate in 
its casino in Beach St, due to open at the end of the year.
Details – p3
Plans on course
The first of 36 sections in a village development on the Cromwell golf course have been 
put on the market. Developers have spent five years in planning and obtaining the 
necessary consents.
Details – p9
Raffle falls flat
An Auckland high school rugby team's attempt to raffle a pallet of beer was illegal and 
"absurd", Police Minister George Hawkins said yesterday.
He understood the Westlake High School 1st XV's raffle had been cancelled.
It was illegal to raffle alcohol and it was also not a suitable prize for a school to be 
offering, he said.

Fluoride request
Timaru: Health Minister Annette King is asking district councils to add fluoride to their 
water supplies because of the appalling condition of children's teeth. She is not looking at 
legislation at this stage. – NZPA

Livestock details online
By Sally Rae

Oamaru: Wrightson has made a $2.2m investment in information technology to support 
its livestock business.
The new system was installed at the Waiareka saleyards in Oamaru on Monday – the first 
saleyards in Otago to have the Livestock Auction Management System (Lams) operating.
Lams is effectively the transaction processing part of the system which will enable tax 
invoices, sale notes, delivery dockets and vendor declaration details to be produced on 
sale day at the sale.
The Livestock Electronic Listing System will be the component which facilitates the 
listing of livestock and sale via the Internet. This is still under development but the listing 
service is expected to be in place towards the end of this year.

Waikato Power Trust candidates not allowed to campaign
By David Bruce

Oamaru: An election without a campaign confronts candidates for the Waitaki 
Power Trust.
Returning officer Alex Nisbet advised the 15 candidates of a ban on campaigning, 
canvassing or advertising, just
before a public meeting to which they had been invited yesterday.
Quoting a legal opinion on a section of the 1992 Waitaki Power Trust deed dealing with 
elections, Mr Nisbet said candidates could 
provide 200 words and a photograph, to go
out to consumers with voting papers from July 14.
That, according to the trust deed, was all the publicity allowed.
Two candidates, Val Dearman and Des Cochrane, spoke at yesterday's meeting, 
but only to tell people they would be
available on the telephone to
talk with them individually That came after several other speakers at the meeting advised 
people to ring each of the
candidates.
Mr Nisbet would not be drawn on whether Mr Cochrane and Ms Dearman could be 
classed as "canvassing" at
yesterday's meeting by offering to talk individually to voters. He said any action would 
depend on whether there was a
complaint.
Any breach of the clause would have to be referred to the trustees, who 
would then have to make a decision.
Mr Nisbet had obtained a legal opinion from Oamaru solicitor George Berry 
which said if a breach of the clause was
challenged in court, a trustee's appointment could be jeopardised or the 
entire election declared void.
Mr Nisbet said he had used Mr Berry for the opinion because he had dealt with him 
before, not because he was the legal adviser 
for Networks South and Network Waitaki.
Mr Berry had also advised that the trust election was different to a public 
election because voters were consumers, a
very defined group of people.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times, Mr Nisbet warned that any publicity on behalf of a 
candidate could jeopardise that candidate's selection, or the election as a 
whole. He said was not directing news media but warning what the result of publicity 
could be.
"I am asking you to respect that [clause] because a very expensive election 
could be struck down by a technicality,"
he said.
Power users send message to minister - page 10

Schools subdued at staff news
By Blair Mayston

Otago

The announcement of more than 13 additional full-time teacher equivalents 
for Otago has been greeted by secondary
principals, but far from enthusiastically.
"What we've received helps - I guess any little bit does - but it is a little disappointing it 
was not more significant," Otago Secondary Principals Association president Tony 
Jenkins said.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced at the Principals Federation 
conference in Christchurch last week the
Government had set aside for $8.6 million next year to fund more teacher 
hours. Primary schools with a roll of less
than 160, some rural and area schools, and some secondary schools stood to 
benefit.
Mr Mallard's announcement met with derision from some delegates.
Indicative details, based on this year's school rolls, were released on Wednesday.
The Otago area gets 13.1 additional FTTEs, spread among 36 schools with several 
receiving only an additional 0.2 of
a fulltime teacher.
Otago Primary Principals Association president Danny Knudson could not be 
contacted yesterday.
Indicative staffing additions for Otago are.

Schools fear staffing cuts
Otago
By Marjorie Cook
A librarian's job and three teaching programmes are in jeopardy if the 
Wanaka Primary School's funding is changed.
School principal Lis Bartlett and the school's entire staff of 11 wrote to 
Otago MP Gavan Herlihy last month saying
programmes established under a fully-funded (or bulk-funding) option would 
not continue under centralised funding.
Ms Bartlett signed the letter on "behalf of the board of trustees".
Mr Herlihy read the letter aloud in Parliament on Tuesday night in an 
unsuccessful attempt to have funding laws
amended.
The fully-funded option allowed a part-time, qualified librarian to be 
employed in an information and technology
programme, the school said.
"With a markedly increasing roll and the literacy programmes we are now 
developing, it is essential to provide the
services of such a person," the school said.
The Gifted and Talented Children's Programme and the Help programme, 
designed to catch "at-risk" first-year
learners, would also be discontinued.
Literacy skills had improved since the three programmes started and staff 
were "disappointed" and "frustrated"
children's learning could suffer.
Wanaka Primary School has a decile 9 ranking and does not receive extra 
Ministry of Education support.
Decile ranking affects the amount of money a school gets. Schools are ranked between 1 
(low socioeconomic status) and 10 (high status).
Three other Wakatipu Basin schools, with decile 10 rankings, expect to lose 
a combined $175,000 under central
funding, a Central Otago newspaper reported last week.
Queenstown Primary expects to lose $75,000, Arrowtown Primary $50,000 and 
Wakatipu High School $50,000.
Wakatipu High School board chairwoman Ann Mann yesterday confirmed 
estimates the school could lose $50,000.
The Government had pledged more money to schools in operating grants and she was 
waiting with "bated breath" for details.
The school's decile ranking would affect the outcome, she said.
"The indicators are that our school will be one of the losers in the next 
round and we will just wait," she said.
Wakatipu High School principal Kevin Orlowski said literacy and numeracy 
programmes could be affected by reduced
funding. He was awaiting details from the Government.
Once next year's teacher numbers were confirmed, he could plan extra 
programmes.
"I'm confident we can utilise staff resources for similar programmes," Mr Orlowski said.

Plea for funding fails
By Marjorie Cook

Otago MP Gavan Herlihy's last-ditch attempt to keep bulk funding for 
schools in his electorate has failed.
Mr Herlihy's proposed amendment to the Education Amendment Act, to allow 
schools to keep their funding options,
was rejected in Parliament on Tuesday night.
He said yesterday he expected the Bill would now be passed this week, 
removing more than $175,000 from Central
Otago schools alone.
"These people had a contract or thought they had a contract with the 
Ministry of Education, and that contract should
be allowed to run its
course," he said.
There are two types of school funding, both based on student numbers.
Central funding, which the Government intends to reintroduce, will see 
teachers paid according to scale directly by
the Government.
In the fully-funded (also known as bulk funding) option, schools are 
given the cash to use as they see fit.
That means if there are some staff who are not at the top of the scale, 
the school can afford extra teaching
programmes. These extras are usually targeted at improving children's 
literacy and numeracy skills.

First Cromwell golf village lots on sale
Cromwell
By Dave Smith

On the mark … The Dunes Ltd director Richard Fraser (centre) checks the site for a 
village development at the Cromwell golf course with course manager Doug Harradine 
(left) and Harcourts Cromwell agent Alister Stuart.

Five years ago, Cromwell businessmen Richard Fraser and Colin Cowie set in 
motion a plan to create the Dunes, a
multi-million dollar village on the Cromwell golf course.
Yesterday, their plan became more concrete when they officially launched 
the sale of the first 10 lots of the 36-lot
subdivision. Prices range between $45,000 and $95,000.
Mr Fraser said their vision in 1995 was to use about 5ha of course 
wasteland that was owned partly by the Cromwell Golf Club and partly by the 
neighbouring Cromwell Holiday Park.
At the time, the club had asked Mr Cowie for ideas on increasing the club's 
financial viability and flagging
membership.
It all seemed reasonably straightforward - apply for a plan change to allow 
the development, sell the sections and the
club would earn extra revenue from membership and green fees.
While there were a lot of supporters, including New Zealand golf 
professional Greg Turner, opposition to the proposal through the planning process added 
long delays.
A month after the developers
sought planning consent, the Central Otago District Council denied permission.
During the initial planning process, Turner, described the opportunity for 
a village development as the "jewel in the
crown" of courses in Central Otago and said it would rate
internationally alongside Millbrook Resort, near Arrowtown.
After finally gaining interim planning permission late last year, the first 
part of the development started, with one green
moved and another reconfigured to allow for the internal roads and new 
gateway to the course.
Turner wrote to the developers earlier this year saying the combination of 
stylish fairway-side living and the Cromwell
course should offer a tremendous lifestyle opportunity.
Armed finally with all the necessary consents, Mr Fraser said selling stage 
one had started.
The company had engaged Wanaka architect Sarah Scott to design the layout 
of the "gated" village and design the
dwellings, ranging in size from two to four bedrooms to keep a 
predetermined theme in the development.
"Each lot purchase includes a choice of Sarah's architectural plans and 
five-year membership to the golf club " Mr
Fraser said.
It was intended to allow up to 50 dwellings when the development was 
finished including walkways to the golf course.

Three trips for licence test
By Vivienne Paterson
Clutha

Lawrence: An 84-year-old Lawrence woman had to make three trips to 
Balclutha in as many days because the new
car licensing and testing system does not allow appointments to be made 
over the telephone.
Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board member Jean Goodlet told the board 
this week the regulations surrounding
the new licensing system were ridiculous and were seriously 
disadvantaging those from smaller rural areas who had
no local testing facility.
She said the elderly woman rang Balclutha to make an appointment but was, told she 
would have 
to call at the agency. This involved an almost two-hour round trip from Lawrence.
Mrs Goodlet drove the woman to Balclutha where she was told her test 
would be the following day. They went down
the next day and were told there had been a mistake and the appointment 
was not, in fact, until the day after.
The third time they went down, the man staffing the agency was very 
apologetic, Mrs Goodlet said, and she conceded mistakes happen. But she said the fact 
people in rural areas could not make
appointments over the phone was very annoying.
"Even if they could take the necessary documents to a licensing agency in 
the morning and sit their test in the
afternoon or something, it would be easier. But this system is not 
satisfactory."
The community board is to write to members of Parliament asking for a 
review of the system. It will also continue its
appeal to have a mobile testing station in Lawrence regularly.

Halberg Trust trustee Ken Greenslade, of Queenstown, holds a glove signed 
by golfer Tiger Woods, the most
prestigious item to be auctioned in September's ASB Celebrity Sporting 
Dinner hosted by the trust.

Tiger's mark adds interest to charity auction
By David Williams
Queenstown

One of the world's top sportsmen has lent his name to help raise money 
for disabled children in Otago and Southland.
Golfer Tiger Woods, the world's No 1 player, who is linked to New Zealand 
by caddy Steve Williams, has signed a
glove and a photograph for this year's Queenstown ASB celebrity sporting 
dinner and auction, which is being held at
the Millennium Hotel on September 9.
Mr Greenslade said signed pictures of Woods were selling in an Australian 
store he visited recently for $2600 and he
hoped the signed glove and photo would attract a lot of interest.
Other auction items include signed All Black and Team New Zealand jerseys, 
Queenstown-Lakes District Mayor
Warren Cooper's Olympic torch, an original oil painting by Dalefield 
artist Peter Beadle, an Australian holiday
package and framed cigarette cards of the 1920s All Blacks.
Olympic gold medallists Peter Snell and Sir Murray Halberg will be guest 
speakers and tickets have sold out more
than two months before the dinner.
Mr Greenslade, who has sent his special cheques and photos to be signed 
by famous people
around the world, said although he spent a lot of time finding prizes - 
and trying to do better each year - it was very satisfying.
Over the past four years, New Zealand and world sporting legends have donated either 
their time or their signatures to the dinner. The Queenstown function, one of several, held 
around the country, has raised more than $100,000 since the first one was held in 1996.

Skiing under starlight 'a magical experience'
By David Williams  
Queenstown

Night skiing at the Coronet Peak Ski Area starts today.
 Flood lights will illuminate the skifield each weekend from today as skiers and 
snowboarders take to the slopes with stars
above and the night lights of
Queenstown below.
 Ski area manager Andy Chapman said night skiing was "a magical experience" and had 
attracted strong 
support from Queenstown residents
during the past few years.
The Express, Meadows and Big Easy chairs will be running,
as well as the learners' handle tow. Tickets start at $30 for an adult and $20 for a child.
 More than 24 million litres of water have been turned into snow at 
Coronet Peak this week.
The skifield's 45 snow guns have been going flat out since Monday to 
replace some of the snow lost during heavy rain and mild weather last month.
Mr Chapman said the guns had been making snow almost continually for 90 
hours by yesterday afternoon. The
record was seven days.
Machine snow was more resilient than natural snow and held up to weather 
extremes better, he said.

Power users send message to minister
By David Bruce
Waitaki

David Benson-Pope

Oamaru: Minister of Energy Pete Hodgson is to receive a strong message 
about North Otago dissatisfaction with
Network Waitaki, the power lines company serving the area.
Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope promised to deliver that after he heard 
complaints at a meeting in Oamaru
yesterday about the way the consumer-owned company was being run.
He also made it clear Mr Hodgson was not as happy with Network Waitaki as 
the company might have made out.
Network Waitaki had quoted Mr Hodgson as saying the lines company was a 
model for the rest of New Zealand, but
Mr Benson-Pope doubted that was accurate.
"I know what he said to me yesterday about your lines company and how unsatisfactorily 
high its lines charges were," Mr Benson-Pope said.
He hoped the area would not have to put up with that longer
than was necessary.
The meeting, called by Grey Power North Otago and Age Concern, was attended 
by over 100 people from a wide
range of age groups.
They were
 unhappy with what they believed were high line charges, and upset the 
company was being run at such a big profit
and paying $1.9 million in tax in the 1999-2000 financial year.
There was also concern that the trustees of the Waitaki Power Trust, with 
the exception of Dennis Norman, were not
reflecting the views of the consumers who owned Network Waitaki.
Attempts by Grey Power, Age Concern and other groups to meet the company in 
front of news media or in public had
also been turned down, which "gobsmacked" Mr Benson-Pope.
Part of the solution was political - people in North Otago applying political pressures to 
make the changes they wanted through their own organisations such as the Waitaki 
District Council, he said.
While some changes suggested in the review of the electricity industry by 
David Caygill's group would help, they
would not address all the issues facing North Otago people.
After the meeting, Mr Benson-Pope told the Otago Daily Times he would be 
reporting back to Mr Hodgson early next
week, and he would be "well informed" about the meeting.
Not surprised by the reaction at the meeting, Mr Benson-Pope said Network Waitaki had 
line charges that were among the highest in the South Island.
He could see two main issues - the high fixed line charges and a lack of accountability 
and communication by
Network Waitaki and Waitaki Power Trust with the consumers who owned the company.

IN BRIEF
Farmer up for award
Gore sheep farmer and breeder Blair Robertson is one of three finalists 
in this year's Royal Agricultural Society Young
Achievers Award.
Mr Robertson will join Darin Bradley, from Whakatane, and Jamie 
Cunninghame, of Palmerston North, in the final at
the Royal Show in Hamilton in October.
Mr Robertson (26) established his first Romney stud 10 years ago. He now 
works on the family farm, which
incorporates commercial sheep flocks and Romney and Angus studs.
Fewer permits issued
Oamaru: The value of building permits issued by the Waitaki District 
Council in June was down $1,122,657 on those
issued in the same month last year.
The council issued 85 permits worth $632,131 last month, compared with 
103 worth $1,754,788 in June last year.
However, the total value for June last year was boosted by $514,400 of 
new commercial work (none last month).
Only one permit, worth $80,000, was issued for a new house last month, 
compared with four, worth a total of
$671,000, in June last year.
Wallet stolen
Queenstown: A Perth woman reported the theft of her wallet, containing 
credit cards, her driver's licence and $170
cash, from her jacket pocket while she was at a Queenstown bar on 
Wednesday night, a police spokesman said.
Cabaret planned
Oamaru: A cabaret will be held in the Herbert Hall on July 15 to mark the 
hall's 25th anniversary.
About 120 people were  expected to attend the event, secretary-treasurer Ian Caldwell 
said.
Like father, like son
Alexandra: When Alexandra Rotarian John Taylor received one of Rotary's 
highest awards recently, he was following
in the footsteps of his late father.
The Alexandra Rotary Club was established in 1943 and, in 1984, Geoff 
Taylor was awarded the club's first Paul
Harris Fellowship.
Last week, orchardist John Taylor was similarly honoured. Mr Taylor joined the club in 
1974 and was president in
1984-85.
The family property at Conroys' Gully, near Alexandra, is famous for its 
Dawson cherries and each year Mr Taylor
contributes boxes for sale at the club's Christmas-New Year book sales, 
the club's annual fund-raiser.
Correction
Oamaru: North Otago Rugby Football Union vice-president Peter Twiss was 
pictured with a representative of the
union's new sponsor, Summit Wool Spinners managing director Steve Nagao, 
in yesterday's Otago Daily Times.
The advertising feature on the Waikato-North Otago Ranfurly Shield clash 
incorrectly named him as NORFU president
Phil Hope.

Focus, effort and support recipe for centre's success
By Vivienne Paterson

We feed the bees and they feed us … Learning the magic of making honey at the 
Goldfields Educare Centre last week were 4-year-olds Rachel King (left) and Charmaine 
Hanson.

Lawrence: An excellent Education Review Office report, plans for expansion, 
new programmes, a new van and a
supportive community are making Goldfields Educare in Lawrence a happy 
place to be.
In only two years, the early childhood education centre has gone from two 
full-time teachers to four, it has part-time
staff and the roll averages 19 but often reaches the maximum allowable 
daily attendance of 22.
The centre has also been licensed to introduce a special infant and 
toddlers programme, has started an after-school programme and also runs a school 
holiday programme.
Goldfields Educare started two years ago to fill the need for a child-care 
centre which could be used by working
parents or as a reliable childminding service, but it has developed into a 
pre-school education centre.
"We are lighting a fire in the children," the head teacher, Tricia Lomas, 
said, "and then we send them to school where we expect the fire to be kept burning,"
Recently, Mrs Lomas and another full-time staff member, Lisa Wilson, along 
with eight other New Zealanders,
attended a world conference in Reggio Emelia, northern Italy, at the Educare centre 
which Newsweek magazine 10
years ago named as having the best early childhood philosophy in the world.
The women paid their own fares, with the help of some local fund raising, 
but, even
so, people were amazed that two full-time staff from such a small centre 
would be released to attend the conference.
But that, Mrs Lomas said, was indicative of the support given to Goldfields 
Educare by its management staff and of
the quality of the programme it is trying to run.
The centre offers a programme based around expanding a child's intellect.
"We introduce something that the children may be interested in and then 
develop it as the children respond. We see
where they want to go and we take them there. This means that different 
children are often doing different things,
according to their needs," Mrs Lomas said.
Many of the children leaving Educare for school could already read and 
write and had a desire to learn, she said.
The holiday programme is being run at the Lawrence Area School because of 
space problems at the Educare centre,
and will include trips to Dunedin and activities in Lawrence.
Goldfields  Educare recently launched an appeal to raise funds for more adventurous play 
equipment for the older children involved in the
after-school programme.
The Education Review Office recently reported on the "high quality care and 
education" received by the children and
said teachers worked as an effective team to plan, deliver and evaluate 
programmes "that stimulate children's
interest". It commented that the learning needs of individual children were 
being met, the head teacher was providing
leadership, encouragement and support and the board provided strong 
leadership.

Historic precinct grants
By Sally Rae
Oamaru

The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust has received two grants from the Lottery 
Grants Board to help with the restoration
of the historic precinct.
The first grant, of $30,000, is for the structural strengthening of Smiths Grain
Store.
It is hoped the first floor of the building will be used as a studio apartment to provide 
another space for artists or crafts
people, trust project manager Neil Plunket said.
The second grant, of $7900, is to help reroof the Union building in Tyne St.

District plan post
By Vivienne Paterson

Rachel Palmer

Balclutha: A project assistant has been appointed to ensure the
widest possible community participation in the drafting of a strategic 
Clutha district plan.
Rachel Palmer (27), former personal assistant to the chief executive 
officer of Telford Rural Polytechnic, has been appointed to the one-year position with the 
Clutha District Council.
Ms Palmer, who is also working on a PhD, based on the landscape architecture
of the Clutha district, began her new job on Monday.
The strategic plan will offer the Clutha District Council a blueprint for 
the development of the district in all aspects
 of life, including employment, education,
recreation, population trends, agriculture, forestry, tourism and how to ensure that all 
sectors reach their full potential.

Feathered friends ... Ron Scott (left) and Jim Gillespie share a joke 
while penning their birds at the  Oamaru Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society's show.

Breeders search for bantam beauty   
By Sally Rae
Oamaru

Jim Gillespie and Ron Scott have been breeding bantams for many years.
Mr Gillespie (74) and Mr Scott (70), who live in Timaru, have entered their 
birds in the Oamaru Poultry, Pigeon and
Canary Society's 116th annual show at the Drill Hall.
 Exhibitors come from all over the South Island to the show, which has 
attracted 1000 entries. It will be open to the
public this afternoon and all day tomorrow
 Mr Gillespie is exhibiting old English game pile bantams and rosecomb bantams, in 
partnership with his son, Tony. Mr Scott has entered his Minorca bantams. 
 Mr Gillespie has been breeding bantams since he was a boy and exhibits his birds at 
shows in Dunedin, Mosgiel, Milton, Ashburton, Waimate and Oamaru.
 He has, won a lot of prizes with his black rosecombs, which were considered some of the 
best around, he said.
"You're always looking for perfection and breeding the really good one," he said.
At a show in Waimate two
weeks ago, his rosecomb was judged best and his birds have not been beaten in the pullet 
class on the six-show circuit for the past two years.

News Digest
Low flows
River levels in North Otago are exceptionally low but farmers are being told it is too 
early to say whether another drought is likely.
Details – p15
Orchardist elected
Cromwell orchardist Basil Goodman will head the $75 million summer fruit industry 
after being elected chairman of Summerfruit New Zealand.
Mr Goodman has previously been chairman of the Summerfruit Export Council.
A decision to merge Summerfruit NZ and the Summerfruit Export Council was made at 
the annual meeting of Summerfruit NZ in Cromwell yesterday.
Further reports – p17
Thankless wretch
A police officer who offered a drunk man a ride home in a police car was punched in the 
mouth for his trouble, the Christchurch District Court was told yesterday. 
Daniel Andrew McNally (27) admitted assaulting police and was sentenced to three 
months' police and was sentenced to three months' periodic detention.

 Cannabis incident at school
Alexandra
By Dianne King

An incident where a Dunstan High School pupil was allegedly found at school with 
cannabis, was referred to Alexandra police earlier this week.
Sergeant Steve Smith, of Alexandra, said the matter was first dealt with by the school.
"The school is very vigilant and immediately informed the police," Sgt Smith said.
The pupil, whose age and sex were not revealed, will be dealt with by a Youth Aid 
officer. The school is also dealing with the incident.
Principal Dave Smyth said he would comment on the issue after a meeting of the school's 
board of trustees next week.

Life sentence
Auckland: The mothers of a convicted killer and his victim hugged in reconciliation in 
the High Court at Auckland yesterday.
Tears flowed as Don Layton Luamanu (26), of Otara, was given a mandatory life 
sentence for the murder of Solomone Taimarangi during an early morning brawl in 
downtown Auckland in August last year.
Luamanu also was found guilty of injuring Sani Niua-Tofa with intent to cause grievous 
bodily harm. – NZPA

Hobbit feet a challenge

Wellington: Giant Hobbit feet are comfy to wear – but difficult if you have to run up and 
down rocky shale on mountain tops, one of The Lord of the Rings stars has revealed.
American actor Sean Astin (29), who plays the Hobbit Frodo's sidekick Sam, said in an 
interview posted on an American Internet web site he had to do much running and 
tramping wearing Hobbit feet.
"They're form-fitting, they're comfortable, they're durable, but at the same time they're 
cumbersome. It's a challenge running up and down uneven terrain or on the rocky shale 
on the tops of these mountains we get helicoptered to," he said.
Astin said he and his family were spending a long time in New Zealand and enjoying it. – 
NZPA

Stripped dental centre reveals art deco lines

Change of tools ... Mosgiel dentist Paul Sapsford pauses in his efforts 
to saw a clinging blanket of ivy from a wall of the dental centre in 
Ranfurly.

Ranfurly  
By Dianne King
An art deco-style dental centre has been stripped of its massive 
blanket 
of ivy for a makeover as a significant building
in the Maniototo's rural art deco theme.
Freeing the building from the ivy was a recent weekend task for the 
town's one-day-a-week dentist, Paul Sapsford,
from Mosgiel,
who swapped his dental instruments for a large saw.
A tangled web of green, the ivy was estimated at about 5m long, 5m 
wide, 
50cm deep and, in the view of those
watching Mr Sapsford, it weighed at least "a tonne".
Scheme co-ordinator Edna McAtamney said the dental centre was built in 
1951 by the then dentist Jock Anderson.
"This building is a very fine and significant example of art deco 
architecture, both inside and out, and will look 
outstanding when it's repainted," Mrs McAtamney said.
The town's first dental surgery was built in Ranfurly west, about 1898.
When completed, the dental centre will take the number of art deco-
style 
buildings in Northland St to six and 14
buildings will have been repainted.
The landmark building in Maniototo's art deco theme is the Centennial 
Milk Bar gallery.
The former milk bar was purchased by the Manitoto Community Board and 
Central
Otago District Council, refurbished as a gallery and officially opened 
in 
February.
Mrs McAtamney said visitor numbers to the gallery have remained steady 
over winter and since its opening in
February "an amazing" 2300 people have been through the building.

Survey into waste recycling under way
By Dianne King 
Central Otago

Alexandra: A survey identifying quantity and types of 
Waste for recycling is being undertaken by the
Central Otago Wastebusters group.
Chairman John Douglas said it was one of the first steps where the 
public 
could assist the community-owned
organisation towards starting a resource recycling centre, to be based 
at 
the Alexandra transfer station.
The Central Otago and Queenstown-Lakes district councils share a 
landfill 
site at Victoria Bridge, near Queenstown.
A questionnaire had been sent to all businesses in Central Otago.
A district-wide survey was necessary to estimate the quantity of
resale, Mr Douglas said.
As soon as the Alexandra centre was operating efficiently, the service 
would be extended to Cromwell, Ranfurly and Roxburgh.
Diverting waste away from the landfill station would reduce transport 
costs and offer employment at the recycling centres.
There were eight replies to the advertised position of a Central Otago 
Wastebusters manager.

Cemetery investigation useful, council says
By Glenn Conway
Waipori

Balclutha: The Clutha District Council has spent more than $3500 so far 
on 
the Waipori Cemetery reserve issue but
believes the money has been well spent.
The council has been at the centre of a controversy over a
two-storey holiday home built on part of the cemetery reserve to 
replace 
two former racemen's huts burnt down in
January.
A ground-penetrating radar survey of the site carried out over three 
days 
cost $3500. Legal fees were "not huge",
according to council chief executive Ciaran Keogh.
The total cost of the investigation would not be known for some time, 
Mr Keogh said. But the council had 
gained from the exercise.
"From something that caught us out due to circumstances, we have more 
knowledge of the site and that will be
useful."
The council has only retained
a few hours of legal opinion on the issue so far.
The cost was not budgeted for and would be classed as an over-expense 
in the 
regulatory services fund, Mr Keogh said.
He said the matter would have cost the council something regardless of 
the 
final outcome.
"If the house on the site is to be moved in the future, there will be a 
cost. If it stays, then we
would still have spent this money so far."
The cost was necessary and beneficial.
"The survey has resolved there were no graves outside the cemetery 
boundary, so it is handy to know that."
The only objects detected under the ground were tree roots and rocks.
But the Save Mahinerangi
Society has described the three-day survey as extravagant and 
ineffective.
"In the highly acidic soils at Mahinerangi, anything buried is not 
likely 
to last very long," spokesman Trevor Reeves said.
In a press statement he said the society deplored the council's "casual 
use" of a public cemetery.

Apartments in demand
By Kerry Williamson
Queenstwon

One of Queenstown's newest luxury apartment blocks is more than half 
sold, five months before its planned opening.
The $4 million, five-star Garden Court Suite and Apartment complex, on 
the corner of Frankton Rd and Adelaide St, is
one of several luxury apartment blocks being built in the resort.
More than $100 million worth of development is transforming 
Queenstown's 
accommodation industry, with apartment
complexes going up at a rate similar to hotels in the mid-1990s.
Ten of the 17 one and two-bedroom managed suites at Garden Court have 
been sold, after domestic and international
buyers viewed plans of the complex
The suites are still under construction and will not be finished until 
December.
Owners have signed up for a 25-year management contract, paying 
$185,000 
for a one-bedroom suite or $265,000 for
a two-bedroom apartment.
Each suite features timber joinery, ceramic tiles, heated marble floors 
in the kitchen and bathroom, a spa bath, video,
compact disc player, two televisions and halogen lighting.
Garden Court Motor Lodge owner Russell Webley said Queenstown's recent 
tourism boom, coupled with a trend for
visitors to stay longer in the resort, meant apartments were sought 
after.
"We recognised a need to expand into the rapidly exploding managed 
apartment market. Queenstown is maturing
from a pass-through resort to a stay-put destination," he said.
 
IN BRIEF 
Drugs charges
Oamaru: A Waimate man (54) was arrested on Thursday, and charged with 
supplying morphine sulphate tablets,
Senior Constable Bruce Dow reported yesterday.
Trundlers missing
Oamaru: Oamaru police are investigating the disappearance of about 20 
shopping trundlers, valued at $400 each,
from Woolworths Oamaru during recent weeks.
Building permits
Oamaru: The value of building permits issued by the Waitaki District 
Council in July was up $1,370,249 on those
issued in the same month last year.
The council issued 60 permits, worth $2,204,256, last month, compared 
with 104, worth $834,007, in July last year.
The value of permits was boosted by $985,600 of alterations to 
commercial 
buildings and four new dwellings costing a
total of $677,000.
Reunion for ex-pupils
Owaka: Former Catlins schoolchildren from as far away as Australia have 
registered for the Owaka School's 125th
jubilee to be held early next year.
A meeting this week was told 237 registrations have been accepted so 
far 
but organisers want more locals to express
their interest.
Registrations close on August 31.
Ice hockey draw
Queenstown: Defending under-16 ice hockey champion Auckland was held to 
a 
1-1 draw by Southern during a
national tournament match held yesterday.
Four teams, Auckland, Southern, Canterbury and Tamaki, will play off 
today and the two top qualifiers will face off in
the final at 8am tomorrow.
About 80 young players have been involved in the games, being played at 
the Queenstown Fun Centre.

Allergy awareness group aims to help others
By Sally Rae

Providing support: Oamaru mothers Ann van Eck (front) and Fiona 
Newlands with Simone and Nicholas.

Oamaru: An allergy awareness group set up recently in Oamaru is 
attracting 
a lot of interest.
Allergy Awareness is a national organisation established to provide 
support, information and advocacy to members
and to educate and inform the public and medical and health 
professionals 
about allergies.
 There are 15 support groups
throughout New Zealand, but
until recently the closest support
for Oamaru people was Christchurch or Invercargill.
Ann van Eck said she had "such a rough time" with her children, Simone 
(2) and Oliver (9 months), that she was
phoning a group in Christchurch, which was getting costly.
Simone and Oliver are allergic to dairy products, sheep, goats, dust 
mites 
and pets.
Fiona Newlands was having similar problems with her sons, Jordan (7) 
and 
Nicholas (4), who are allergic to dairy
products, horses, pets, dust mites and grasses.
The two women decided to form an allergy group, which meets on the 
second 
Tuesday of every month at the St
Paul's hall
from 9.30am to 11am.
There were five people at the inaugural meeting and there had been a 
lot of 
inquiries and interest expressed since
then, Mrs
Newlands said.
The next meeting is on Tuesday, when a speaker from Winz will discuss 
disability allowances.

Fruitgrowers debate change
Cromwell
By Dave Smith

Innovate and adapt or stagnate and perish, New Zealand fruit growers 
were 
warned at their annual Summerfruit New
Zealand conference in Cromwell yesterday.
About 140 summer fruit growers, suppliers and industry advisers 
attended 
the conference where topics including
biosecurity, quality control, research and development, marketing and 
new 
varieties were discussed.
During the afternoon, a workshop session covered planting and 
production, 
domestic markets, research, quality and
safety and global positioning.
Growers recognised the value of growing quality fruit in volume at an 
economic price, the level of royalties, industry
statistics on planting and replacement and regional advantages.
On the domestic front, they wanted generic regional promotion and to 
sell 
export quality rather than export over-run produce.
In that way, they agreed, the
market standard would lift as would prices.
Another suggestion was a code of ethics for merchants to avoid flooding 
the 
market at certain periods.
Research and development had to focus mainly on quality and safety and 
consumer education
that summer fruit was top quality and safe.
Ron Becroft, chairman of United Fresh and a director of Hort Research, 
said 
United Fresh was behind the "five-a-day"
promotion campaign, which was gaining acceptance nationally after being 
introduced to thousands of primary and pre-schools.
 He did not believe the industry
was addressing the needs of education and training young people
in the industry.  
Russell Jordan, vice-president of Vegfed, the New Zealand Vegetable and 
Potato Growers Federation, stressed the
need of quality assurance by growers to their consumers.
"Consumers want an assurance that the food is safe. It is about a 
totally 
traceable and transparent product which can
stand up to close inspection," he said.
Australian Fresh Stone Fruit Growers Association deputy chairman Cliff 
Riseborough, gave a brief overview of his
industry. He said, cherries excluded, the Australian stone fruit 
industry 
produced around 100,000 tonnes annually,
valued at $200 million and about 20% of the tonnage exported.
Mr Riseborough wanted to see more discipline in the Australian market, 
especially quality control in exports.
Hans Verberne, of Agriquality, spoke about the importance of 
biosecurity 
issues for the stone fruit industry.

Centre opened
By Sally Rae
Oamaru: The Barnardos Early Learning Centre's premises in Oamaru will 
be officially opened this morning.
The centre, which was previously based at Waitaki Girls High School, 
has 
moved into a purpose-built building on
Trent St.
About 50 children are enrolled at the centre and the large premises 
would 
mean more children could be catered for,
head teacher Janine Presnall said yesterday.
The official opening starts at 8.45am, with a blessing by Te Runanga o 
Moeraki, and the centre will be open to the
public until 11.30am.

Policy on dividends
By David Bruce

Oamaru: An attempt to "clear the way" over what happens to extra money 
that 
comes into the Waitaki District
Council's hands was put forward by its finance and administration 
committee 
on Wednesday.
The aim is to sort out what to do with dividends and interest the 
council 
receives from investments or companies in
which it has shares. The issue arose when the council received a 
$55,767 
payout from Network Waitaki Ltd, a
dividend to consumers.
Finance committee chairman Bruce Albiston had suggested the money go 
into 
the council's development fund, or towards an existing project.
Chief executive Helen Barker felt the dividend should be paid back to 
the 
consumers who had earned it - such as in
water and sewerage schemes.
Cr Helen Brookes came up with a solution which the committee adopted. 
Under 
its recommendation, which the
council will consider on September 12, the council can decide what to 
do 
with money it receives as a dividend or
share proceeds that are a direct return on an investment by the 
council.
The Network Waitaki payment will be allocated to the account holders to 
which the dividend related. Transfund has
already received about $10,000.

Trust gets funding for facilitator
By Sally Rae 

Oamaru: The North Otago Electricity Heritage Trust has received funding 
from the Community Employment Group to
employ a facilitator for a year and install a fire protection system.
The trust is developing an
electricity museum in the former Lanes Emulsion building in Harbour St.
 The facilitator, David Palmer, will be involved in research, setting 
up displays,
obtaining funding and setting 
up an electricity heritage
trail around Oamaru, trust
manager Charlie Fraser said,
 Mr Fraser said the museum
would also be a centre of learning and aid a deeper
  understanding of electricity.
  A small heritage radio station would be set up later in
 the year to promote the area.
 It would also be used as an educational tool for school
groups.
The trust saw itself as part of the wider tourism development of North 
Otago, Mr Fraser said.

Neighbours oppose Waverley subdivision
By Fiona Hill

Developers of a 29-section subdivision proposed for Waverley face 
strong 
neighbourhood opposition, a resource
consent hearing agenda shows.
Mr R. and Mrs M. Duffy have applied to subdivide part of their property 
at 
100 Connell St, below Rotary Park.
The couple were granted resource consent in 1998 for a
four-section subdivision. Two neighbours appealed that decision to the 
Environment Court and a subsequent
mediation process dealt with some, but not all, of the neighbours' 
complaints.
Although that appeal was still before the Environment Court, Mr and Mrs 
Duffy decided to apply for overall subdivision
consent earlier this year.
Dunedin City Council senior planner Bruce Richards, in his report to 
the 
council's consent
hearings committee, said even if approved, the subdivision might not go 
ahead because of ongoing issues raised in
the initial application.
The main sticking point was ownership of the proposed subdivision's 
access 
road.
Mr and Mrs Duffy were unable to convince a neighbouring couple to sell 
the 
remaining two-third share of the access lot
to the land.
Mr Richards recommended in his report that consent should
be granted by the committee, which will consider the application on 
Tuesday.
He considered any adverse effects would be "no more than minor" as they 
would be controlled by the proposed
conditions of consent
As well as continued opposition from the two original neighbouring 
submitters, a further six opponents forwarded
submissions.
Four submissions were also received in support.

Too early to gauge acceptance of quit-smoking medication
By Marjorie Cook

A new prescription drug that helps smokers quit the habit has been on 
the 
New Zealand market a month.
The effects of Zyban were explained to Dunedin GPs by Melbourne public 
health specialist Prof Chris Silagy at a
recent function.
Glaxo Wellcome New Zealand spokeswoman Georgie Ville said although GPs 
were 
now prescribing the drug, it was
too early to say how popular it was in New Zealand.
Prof Silagy said 450 million people would die from smoking-related 
illnesses 
in the next 50 years.
"We could avert 25 to 30 million
 deaths, if we reduce the number of smokers by 50% in the next 25 
years," he said.
But only about 3% of people giving up smoking could do so without any 
advice. That increased to about 7% if they
used nicotine replacement therapy.
Zyban could increase the chance of quitting successfully
by up to 30%, he said.
Studies showed that the drug, which is already available in New Zealand 
as 
an anti-depressant, suppressed smoking
urges and withdrawal affects, Prof Silagy said.
It had some side-effects, some of which were trivial, such as a dry 
mouth. 
However, there was a small risk users
could develop
seizures, so it was important the drug was prescribed by GPs.
In the United States, doctors commonly prescribed Zyban as the first 
line 
of defence against smoking, but in New
Zealand it was more likely it would be prescribed after other quit-
smoking 
methods had failed, he said.
Unlike nicotine replacement therapy, smokers could start
taking Zyban before they completely stopped smoking.
Zyban has not yet been licensed for use against smoking in Australia.
"It has a place but it is not a magic cure," he said.
Sometimes it took people up to seven times to quit smoking. The 
important 
thing was to keep trying, he said.

