Cyclone Sose – Rankin To Sue Govt – Paraglider Found – Plane Found In Ureweras – Police Complains Authority – Euthanasia – Siamese Surgery – Colleen Poutsma Dies

CYCLONE SOSE: Cyclone Sose is almost upon us. The cyclone has been lashing Australian beaches with huge surf. The cyclone is now headed for NZ. It will pass over the country on Thursday and Friday. Good news for drought stricken areas in the South Island.

RANKIN TO SUE GOVT: WINZ boss Christine Rankin is threatening to sue the Government because she hasn’t been reappointed to her job. Rankin’s lawyer says her action is alleging political interference in the appointment decision, against the State Sector Act. The coincidence of a decision by cabinet to merge WINZ and the Ministry of Social Policy on the same day is too much for the opposition’s Roger Sowry. Green MP Sue Bradford is also unhappy with the merger decision. Rankin’s claim is likely to be for $1 million.

PARAGLIDER FOUND: Searchers in Victoria have found the body of a missing Kiwi paraglider.

PLANE FOUND IN UREWERAS: Police have also recovered the body of a pilot that went missing near lake Waikaremoana six years ago. The plane wreckage was found by hunters. Why the pilot, James Beggs, was in this area is however a complete mystery.

POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY: A new Independent Police Complaints Authority is to be set up with six of its own investigators. Phil Goff says an extra $1 million a year will be spent on the new investigators. The lawyer for the family of Stephen Wallace – who was shot by police – wants the Authority to be headed by a judge. Phil Goff says that transparency is important and that there will be more examination in that area. The Police Association are not impressed with the plans.

EUTHANASIA: The Netherlands has become the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia. A woman who wants to die is happy with the law change. Protestors say they are ashamed to be Dutch. Mercy killing has been tolerated in Holland for decades. Euthanasia has become easier and easier in Holland over time and is now tolerated even for the severely depressed.

SIAMESE SURGERY: Surgeons in Singapore have completed a marathon operation separating Nepalese siamese twins joined at the skull.

COLLEEN POUTSMA DIES: Cancer Victim Colleen Poutsma, who started an inquiry into the conduct of Northland Gynaecologist Graham Parry, died this morning.

© 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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