Montana Takeover – Dairy Payout – Drug Companies – Israel – NCEA – Vet Strike – Children At Risk – Waipa Power Payout – Wharf Jumping

MONTANA TAKEOVER: Stock Exchange spokesman Bill Foster says there have been lots of wild and emotional statements about the Montana Wines takeover. He says small shareholders did not necessarily lose out.

DAIRY PAYOUT: The Dairy Board says four factors have led to a record payout to dairy farms with an average $70,000 extra per farm being paid out over what was paid last year.

DRUG COMPANIES: Oxfam is accusing multinational drug companies of keeping life saving drugs out of the reach of the world’s poor. Glaxo meanwhile claims that they have to charge a fortune to pay for research.

ISRAEL: The injury toll in a gun battle on the Gaza strip has how risen to over 70. Five people, three children, are in a critical condition. A senior Israeli Labour Party member says discussions on forming a new government are deadlocked.

NCEA: The National Party has made a U-turn on the NCEA due to be introduced next year. National says it will now come up with a new policy. Labour’s Trevor Mallard dismisses Gerry Brownlee’s criticisms.

VET STRIKE: A decision is expected this morning from the Employment Court on whether MAF Vets will be allowed to strike.

CHILDREN AT RISK: The Department of Child Youth and Family Services has welcomed a partnership with eight non-government organisations to care for at risk children.

WAIPA PAYOUT: Waipa District Council’s Mayor says he is disappointed that $21 million in dividends from the power company cannot be used for community projects.

WHARF JUMPING: Auckland’s Harbour Master is warning people to not jump off wharves where ferry’s dock in Auckland.

© 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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