Marie Jamieson Murder – Kiwi Bank – Kiwi Bank Politics – Air New Zealand Profit Drops – Lyprinol Sentence Increased – Dentist Seeks Name Suppression – London Fashion

MARIE JAMIESON MURDER: Police stepped up hunt for the killer of Marie Jamieson in Auckland today. The last confirmed sighting of Marie was at a liquor shop in the city. She was staying at a half-way house in Blockhouse Bay where she was receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Her mother makes an impassioned plea for information.

KIWI BANK: Kiwi Bank has approval but no new name yet. NZ Post’s new bank will be opening early next year. NZ Post Chairman Ross Armstrong announces the detail to media. Finance Minister Michael Cullen says the investment is the limit of the Crown’s financial support. The bank is aiming to be profitable in three years and will have the largest branch network in the country with 320 Post Shops as outlets. Consumer Watchdog David Russell says some people will be delighted with the development. Customer inertia is expected to be a bit of a problem says an expert.

KIWI BANK POLITICS: Allegations today that a “Tory Rat” leaked a business plan for the bank to Jenny Shipley are made in the house. Trade Minister Phillip Burdon and former National MP Graham Reeves both left the board last year. Michael Cullen said that Burdon was perhaps unjustly having his honour besmirched due to the fact that Jenny Shipley not naming the leak. Richard Prebble has a copy of the report too. Shipley’s husband Burton Shipley was also referred to obliquely by Cullen saying that she shouldn’t leave the report lying on her kitchen table given that Burton works for ASB.

AIR NEW ZEALAND PROFIT: New Zealand’s airline has struggled to break even over the last six months after taking over Ansett Australia. The Airline says it may have paid too much for Ansett admits the chairman. The Airline says that their will not be any pay increases till improvements are made in productivity by staff. The company has reported just a $3 million profit and has slashed its dividend.

LYPRINOL SENTENCE INCREASED: The fine imposed of Pacific Pharmaceuticals has been increased by a factor of three.

DENTIST’S NAME SUPPRESSION: A Christchurch Dentist charged with indecent assault is fighting to keep his name secret in a Christchurch court. He says his business will be destroyed if his name suppression is lifted.

LONDON FASHION: Strange fashion on the London catwalk in Fashion week. Some of this fashion will never be worn. Paul Smith says fashion publicity is not everything.

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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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