Gang Bash – White House Shooting – White House Attacks – Mark Middleton Protests – Rugby Sevens – Fijian Visitor – Unemployment Fall – Montana Wines – Seal Salmon Feast – Australian Kiwis?

GANG BASH: Mongrel Mob and Black Power clash in Napier. TV3 was their coincidentally and filmed a street fight. Police say public rivalry between the gangs is unusual. Police think the incident is related to a court appearance yesterday. Napier Mayor Alan Dick wants more police officers.

WHITE HOUSE SHOOTING: The man who sparked a gun scare at the White House has a history of psychiatric illness say officials. The incident started with reports of gunfire near the White House. Secret Service agents surrounded the man. After 15 minutes of standoff an officer shot the man in the leg. The man Robert Pickett was a former IRS auditor. His neighbours described him as lowkey and polite. A lawyer who represented him says he was a man with a grievance. Pickett’s lawsuit against the IRS alleges he was sacked for mental disability.

WHITE HOUSE ATTACKS: There have been several incidents around the White House before.

MARK MIDDLETON PROTESTS: A campaign is underway to mount a nationwide protest on the day Mark Middleton is sentenced next week on three charges of threatening to kill a man who murdered his step-daughter. Campaigner Garth McVicar says that Middleton is holding up well in prison. Victims Of Invasive Crime (VOICE) is also pledging support to Middleton with a rally in Auckland. A Balclutha protest will also be held.

RUGBY SEVENS: Rugby Sevens players took part in a parade in central Wellington today. The Council of Trade Unions has criticised Sports Minister Trevor Mallard’s decision to attend the rally. Mallard says that he is a big fan of rugby and is making quite a sacrifice in not watching Fiji. Mallard has the blessing of the PM for his attendance. Wellingtonians are enjoying the prospect of the Sevens tournament.

FIJIAN VISITOR: The commander of Fiji’s Military Forces Frank Bainimarama is in NZ for medical treatment.

UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS: Unemployment has dropped to 5.6% the lowest level since 1988.

MONTANA WINE: A bidding war has broken out for Montana Wine today. Lion Nation and UK based Allied Domecq are both bidding for the company. The price being offered has risen from $3.80 a share to $4.65 so far. Blenheim residents have mixed feelings about selling out to a British company. Sharebrokers are advising stockholders to wait and see.

SEAL SALMON FEAST: A Marlborough Salmon farm has lost its battle to move fur seals away from a Salmon farm. The seals come back even if they are moved and eat $1000 worth of Salmon a day says the company. DOC says the company can’t move them.

AUSTRALIAN KIWIS: Not content with stealing Pavlova Australians are now claiming the Kiwi. A team of Oxford scientists have found evidence that the Kiwi originated in Australia.

© 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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