Waterfront Wars – China Crisis – Dairy Mega-Merger – Sophie Resigns – Auckland Motorway – Paraglider Search – Water Exports – West Coast – Gas Safety- Elsie Locke

WATERFRONT WARS: Nelson MP Nick Smith says it is graceful the mediator in the Nelson waterfront dispute has called for a compromise solution. Meanwhile the WWU is standing by claims that Mainland Stevedores is trying to casualise the waterfront.

CHINA CRISIS: The US says that long term relations with China are at risk because of the spy-plane impasse. Vice President Dick Cheney says there is nothing to apologise for and Colin Powell says the crisis may affect trade relationships.

DAIRY MEGA-MERGER: Cabinet will today consider allowing the Dairy Mega-Merger to bypass the Commerce Commission’s deliberations. The PM says that if the farmers like what they see and if the plan is sound then

SOPHIE RESIGNS: The Queen says the tabloid newspaper scandal that has embroiled her daughter-in-law the Countess of Wessex is deplorable. Sophie has resigned from her PR agency.

AUCKLAND MOTORWAY: A plan to link Auckland’s motorway with the port is a top priority in Auckland say officials.

PARAGLIDER SEARCH: The search for a missing and injured Kiwi paraglider in Victoria Australia has been scaled down. The co-ordinator of the search says hopes are slowly fading.

WATER EXPORTS: South Island entrepreneurs are renewing a water exporting plan from Doubtful Sound, in Fiordland. The latest scheme is smaller than earlier ones. Environmentalists plan to oppose the plan.

WEST COAST: The six West Coast economic development trustees elected at the weekend will meet within a few weeks. The trustees will have $92 million to manage.

GAS SAFETY: The Wellington Coroner is warning that gas appliances need proper ventilation following the death of a woman in her bath due to carbon-monoxide poisoning.

ELSIE LOCKE: Elsie Locke has died in Christchurch aged 88. She was a writer and veteran health campaigner. She is the mother of Keith Locke and Maire Leadbeater.

© 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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