TV3 News

Tuesday, 3 October 2000, 6:22 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Lundy Murders – Electricity Regulation – Holy Land Violence - Floods – Petrol Prices – Super – Celebrity Stories – Shock Jock – Software Piracy

LUNDY MURDERS NEAR ARRESTS: Police say they now have enough evidence to make arrests in the Christine and Amber Lundy case. Police today held a press conference saying they are following positive lines of inquiry. Police say the weapon used to kill Christine and Amber. Mark Lundy is a victim in this inquiry, say police.

ELECTRICITY REGULATION: The Government has detailed its plans to police prices in the electricity industry. The Government plans to turn up the heat on power companies. In future the Commerce Commission will be given sweeping powers over power companies. Fixed charges will be fixed at no more than 10% of the average bill. The industry has welcomed the idea of an ombudsman. The Consumers Institute has also welcomed the proposals but wants to see the detail.

HOLY LAND VIOLENCE: As we go to air Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to a ceasefire. Another 13 people died today. 48 people have now died in a war over the right to control one of the worlds most holy sites. More and more people are attending funerals – which are turning into riots and fighting. Israel is concerned about the spread of violence inside Israel. The trouble has been most widespread on the West Bank. Questions are being asked about the use of live ammunition. Israel is well aware of concern over the killing of a 12-year-old boy whose death was captured on camera. The boy told his father not to be afraid as he died.

FLOODS: More floods. SH4 near Taumaranui and SH56 at Palmerston North are still having problems. The Manawatu breached its stop-banks. The Whanganui did not.

PETROL PRICES: Four major oil companies have announced 2 cent a litre cuts in the cost of both grades of petrol.

SUPER: Cabinet is committed to a superannuation plan. The deal will need the support of NZ First and Greens to get past Parliament. The cost of super is expected to more than double in the next 15 years. Jim Anderton has challenged the opposition to look at the proposals. National says that the scheme is not affordable. NZ First and the Greens both want all parties in Parliament to agree to whatever scheme is put in place.

CELEBRITY STORIES: Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon is seeking release. He says he no longer hears voices asking him to kill rock-stars. Meanwhile Anna Nicole-Smith is seeking an even larger share of J. Howard Marshall’s estate.

SHOCK JOCK: A Hamilton radio station announcer has appeared in court dressed as Superman on charges of impersonating a policeman. The announcer rang LA police and asked them to search several people on a flight from NZ who he said were smuggling kiwi eggs. He faces 3 months in prison and/or a $1500 fine.

SOFTWARE PIRACY: A steam-roller today pulverised thousands of pirated software disks. The software industry thinks it is losing $30 million a year. The industry has so far caught 200 pirates and prosecuted six. The industry says the problem is no joke.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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