TV1 News

Qantas/Air NZ Deal – Dirty Diesel – Home Drug Testing

- QANTAS/AIR NZ DEAL: Qantas is considering a bid for Air NZ. Qantas may seek to grab as much as 56 percent of Air NZ, as much as is currently owned by Brierly Investments and Singapore Airlines together, who have been approached to sell. Neither airline would comment, but an Air NZ statement said the offer is only conceptual at this point. No money has been discussed. A potential sticking point right now is that only 25 percent of the airline is allowed to be owned offshore – the deal would require a law change. Air NZ shares rose immediately following the rise, as did Qantas on the Australian stock exchange.

- DIRTY DIESEL: Insurance Companies say the country’s 25,000 pleasure boaters will be breaching their insurance policies if they go to sea with dirty diesel. That means the dirty diesel will have to be pumped out of tanks before recreational boaties are covered. Fishermen have begun pumping out their dirty diesel, for new diesel expected later in the week.

The dirty diesel scare has prompted the Maritime Safety Authority to take a closer look at two recent accidents off sea.

On land, the dirty diesel crisis means a lot more work for diesel mechanics. Around the country, they’ve been rushed off their feet. The Automobile Association have seen a big rise in demand as well, with the cold weather and the dirty diesel.

- HOME DRUG TESTING: An Australian company has introduced a home drug testing kit that detects drug residues on surfaces, which will be available in New Zealand in a month. It’s already available over the Internet for around $90.

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