Fire service update - Still no one available for interview

Tuesday, 22 February 2011, 5:38 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Fire Service

Fire service update. Still no one available for interview

Fire appliances, firefighting crews and Urban Search and Rescue personnel are on their way to Christchurch to support the civil defence emergency response to the Christchurch airport.

The first wave of support includes several fire appliances from Dunedin and Invercargill with 20 firefighters, support staff and executive officers.

Also on their way are two USAR teams (Urban Search and Rescue) who will arrive on flights from Ohakea early this evening and overnight. They will join the Christchurch-based USAR team. A USAR team from New South Wales is also mobilising while Queensland and the United States have teams on standby.

ENDS

Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

Full Scoop Coverage: NZ Budget 2013

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>

The Court has allowed in part an appeal by the Criminal Bar Association from a judgment of the High Court concerning the lawfulness of the Government’s criminal legal aid policy. More>>

Mighty River: 'Mum And Dad’ Investors Myth Busted

Green Party research, confirmed by Treasury, shows that half of the shares in Mighty River Power that National sold to retail investors went to just 13,000 people and that 10 percent of the retail shares went to just 400 wealthy people and organisations. More>>

Lockwood in London: Answers Needed On High Commissioner’s Residence

New Zealand taxpayers should be told why they are having to fork out $7500 a week to pay for alternative premises for the High Commissioner in London while the official residence remains empty, Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Phil Goff, says. More>>

ALSO:

Out-Link - High Commissioner's weekly rent $7500 - National - NZ Herald News
2009 image Werewolf - The Pope of Parliament

Wellington: Council Kick-Starts Airport Extension

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said today that a runway extension is crucial to attracting long-haul international flights to the Capital City and will grow the economy of the lower North Island. More>>

ALSO:

Wellington Employers' Chamber of Commerce - Vote for runway resource consent positive news
Property Council Of NZ - City Council Provides Major Boost to Runway Extension
Earlier Scoop Business - Wgtn Airport says airline revenue jump reflects noise fee
Image Out-Link - Wellington-Airport-Masterplan-January-2010.pdf
Pundit.co.nz Out-Link - Tim Watkin: More bad process - is this the new National normal?

Burst Of Psychoactivity: Legal Highs Bill To Be "Even Faster-Tracked"

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne wants to push the Psychoactive Substances Bill through Parliament faster than planned when it returns from the select committee in mid-June, with the aim of having the legislation in place in July. More>>

ALSO:

Labour - Dunne’s ‘rush’ a long time coming
NZ Govt - Meth Plan Continues to Show Results
The Vote - Kiwis Say Yes Let’s Decriminalise Soft Drugs - Legal Highs Industry: Synthetic Cannabis More Dangerous
Out-Link - Modelling Behaviour • Hard News • Public Address

Colin Craig: New Twitter Security Welcomed

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig is welcoming the announcement from Twitter today that new security measures are being introduced. This announcement coincidentally follows yesterday’s hijacking of his twitter account. More>>

ALSO:

Twitter - Twitter announces two-factor authentication
2012 Image Out-Link - Colin Craig explains work prayers - extended interview - Story - Politics - 3 News

"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

IPCA Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified. “However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... ” The detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>

ALSO:

IPCA Operation 8 Report (PDF)
NZ Govt - Minister welcomes release of IPCA report
NZ Police - Police accept Operation 8 IPCA report - E whakaae ana ngā Pirihimana ki te pūrongo Operation 8
Labour - IPCA recommendations must be fully implemented
Greens - Damning report shows need for police culture change
Maori Party - Lack of Remorse from Police Won't Restore Tūhoe Relationship - Police ‘Get Away’ With Actions That Were Contrary To Law
Mana Party - Who are the Real Terrorists?
Tame Iti - Tame Iti on IPCA report
Emily Bailey - Emily Bailey comment re. today's IPCA report
NZ Police Association - Operation Eight IPCA report
Some Previous Coverage - 3/2012: Urewera 4 Not to be Retried - 3/2012: Urewera Trial: No Verdict on 'Criminal Group' Charge - 9/2011: Video Surveillance Bill - 9/2011 - Crown Solicitor On Supreme Court Ruling, Dropping Charges - 10/2007: Terrorist Camps On East Cape - Police Activist Raids
Out-Link - The Civilian: Urewera report unable to reconcile idea that police can break law
2009 image by Bell Murphy, via - Explosive Expression: Remember State Terror Raids

Better Insulate Than Never: Reaching For The Rug This Winter? You’re Not Alone

The nationwide Canstar Blue survey - of 2060 people examining consumer satisfaction with electricity providers - found that more than one third (36%) of respondents can’t afford to heat their home adequately in the winter, with Gen Ys and women finding it the toughest. More>>

ALSO:

Labour - More Kiwis Having Power Supply Cut Off
Greens - Cold Kiwis Show Need For Lower Power Prices, Home Insulation
Out-Link - Twitter / johnkeypm: Retweet this if you like our progress in making homes healthier for Kiwi families.
Image: Atelier Bow-Wow, via Auckland Triennial - NZ's biggest contemporary visual arts festival opens

One More Stays Open: Interim Decisions For Five Aranui Schools

“The proposal for a new campus originally included all five schools in the Aranui area. In reviewing the submissions and undertaking further analysis – with a focus on ensuring an exciting brand new education concept for Aranui children – we can achieve this and maintain a strong intermediate option in Chisnallwood. More>>