Qantas NZ Collapse x 2 - Pilot Manslaughter Trial Begins – Veterans Package – Trevor de Cleene – Bert Sutcliffe – Jet Ski Safety – Space Station

QANTAS NZ COLLAPSE: Qantas Australia is sending a Boeing 767 over the ditch to help cope with the collapse of its NZ namesake. The plane will operate a Wellington Christchurch Auckland shuttle. Qantas Australia today took ads in major newspapers to explain that it was nothing to do with Qantas. Jenny Shipley says Qantas should not be allowed to pick the eyes out of the major routes.

QANTAS NZ COLLAPSE: Most passengers were able to get around the country today as Air New Zealand put on 50 extra flights to cope with Qantas NZ passengers. Mosgiel’s brass band have managed to get home. The catering company for Qantas is shutting up shop. Qantas engineers are applying for new jobs already. It is not clear yet how many jobs their will be in NZ for the 1200 Qantas jobs who have lost their jobs.

PILOT MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL BEGINS: A High Court trial began today for an Ansett pilot who crashed a Dash 8 aircraft in the Tararuas in June 1995 killing four people. The pilot Garry Southeran is charged with manslaughter. Southeran has plead not guilty to each charge. The trial is expected to last six weeks.

VETERANS PACKAGE: The government has announced a windfall for POWs held by the Japanese. Former POWs or their wives will get $30,000 each. The payments are part of a package for war veterans unveiled by the Government. The son of one Veteran says he is delighted with the outcome. Veterans have been pushing for 28 years for compensation.

TREVOR DE-CLEENE: Former MP and Minister Trevor de Cleene has died. de Cleene was a supporter of Roger Douglas.

BERT SUTCLIFFE REMEMBERED: 500 gathered for the funeral of cricketer Bert Sutcliffe in Auckland tonight.

JET SKI SAFETY: Auckland Police say two jet-ski riders involved in a fatal accident on Auckland harbour were not wearing life jackets.

SPACE STATION: Astronauts have attached a robotic construction arm to the Alpha space station. Unbolting and unfolding the robotic arm was hard work.

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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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