Dodgy Diesel: Clean Fuel, Fishing, Steven Parker Live – Oldham Race Riots – Police Chase Death – Picket Line Manslaughter – Dyson Returns – TVNZ Split - Skyhawks

DODGY DIESEL: CLEAN FUEL: Commercial fishermen have been assured they will have clean fuel by Thursday. But motorists will have to wait longer. 350 million litres of contaminated fuel have been distributed since April. A shipment of clean fuel arrived today in Tauranga. Other shipments are on their way. Motorists are being advised to use the old fuel in the meantime and to replace oil filters. They will be reimbursed for installing new oil filters. 30 million litres of fuel has been quarantined at Marsden Point.

DODGY DIESEL: FISHING: The Maritime Safety Authority is calling on fishermen to report any problems they have been having with dodgy diesel. The biggest problems are being faced by commercial fishermen, whose lives are placed a risk by failing engines. The Government says it knows of about six boats that have spluttered or stopped due to fuel problems. Within the last two weeks two boats have been lost and the fuel is now a potential suspect. Many emergency services rely on diesel too. Fire-engines will be replacing all oil filters.

DODGY DIESEL:STEVEN PARKER LIVE: Q: What about the long weekend? A: The AA have put out a warning about heading away for the weekend – especially when in 4WD.

OLDHAM RACE RIOTS: Calm has been restored to Oldham in England following face riots. Young Pakistanis and Indians rioted following an attack on a Pakistani business by right wing youth. The riots began when the National Front showed up in Oldham. Asian youths say that National Front youths bashed in a store and police stood by. Racial animosities were stirred several months ago by an attack by Asian youths on a white person. Campaigning Politicians have been urged not to further inflame the situation.

POLICE CHASE DEATH: The Police Complains Authority is investigating a police chase in the Waikato that led to the death of the driver.

PICKET LINE MANSLAUGHTER: The Christchurch man who killed picketer Christine Clark on a Lytellton picket line last year has told a court he was being attacked at the time he accelerated away over the picketer. He says he did not know she was there. After the man fled the picketers chased him. Clark died of head injuries. Today the court saw the accused expressing remorse in a videotaped police interview.

DYSON RETURNS: Labour MP Ruth Dyson will be reinstated to Cabinet next week following the end of her period of driving disqualification on drink driving charges.

TVNZ SPLIT: The Minister if Broadcasting Marian Hobbs is confident that within the next few weeks she will get the numbers to legislate the split of BCL from State Broadcaster TVNZ. The plug was pulled on the plan for the split by the Alliance before it was due to be announced today. Helen Clark says that Hobbs should have consulted more with the Greens. The Alliance will not talk on camera about the impasse. There is definite tension between the Alliance and Labour over this issue says Jane Young.

SKYHAWKS: Air Force Skyhawks held their final bombing practice today. The Air Force’s Skyhawk wing is being scrapped by the Government.

© 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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