Smoking Law Changes – Nicotine In Your Coffee? – Pilot Trial – Christine Rankin – Rotorua Settlement Offer – Casino Attacks – Marie Jamieson – Bush Drinking Arrest - Nicole Kidman Stalker

SMOKING LAW CHANGES: Proposed New legislation makes provision to fine bar owners if patrons are caught smoking in mandatory non-smoking areas of bars and cafes. A bar owner says it will be difficult. The new law provides also for enforcement officers. Illegal smokers themselves would not face fines under the proposal. The Hospitality Association says that there is no demand for smoke-free bars. One Dunedin bar disagrees. Under the legislation small bars may have to be completely smoke-free. Clubs will be exempt. NZ First’s Winston Peters believes Labour has gone too far.

NICOTINE DROPS: A new tasteless liquid containing nicotine has been invented in Australia which could be served in your coffee.

PILOT TRIAL: The jury in the Palmerston North Ansett crash trial has been out for more than a day now. The jury has been back with two questions so far in relation to manslaughter charges against Captain Garry Sotheran.

CHRISTINE RANKIN: WINZ boss Christine Rankin will have the day she wants in the Employment Court. Christine Rankin says getting the job back is an important part of her claim. The crown had sought to have Rankin’s case dismissed. Rankin is accusing the Government of turning the mind of the State Services Commissioner against her.

ROTORUA SETTLEMENT OFFER: A Government offer to hand over Rotorua lakes to Te Arawa has been welcomed by local Maori. An annuity payment will be paid under the agreement for public use of the lakes.

CASINO ATTACKS: Police in Auckland are investigating the second attack in a month on Asian women in the car park of the Auckland Casino. In the first attack a woman followed two women into a lift and stole $3500 in cash. In the second security guards tried to pull the offender from his car after another attack on a Korean woman. But he got away.

MARIE JAMIESON: West Auckland police say they are disappointed their main line of inquiry into the murder of Marie Jamieson has proved to be a dead end.

BUSH DRINKING ARREST: Jemma Bush, the daughter of George Bush, is in trouble for trying to by beer. This is her second underage drinking charge in a month. Jemma’s twin sister is thought to have been in the restaurant at the time of the arrest. George Bush is now a teetotaller but used to be a hard drinker.

NICOLE KIDMAN STALKER: An actor accused of stalking Nicole Kidman has been banned from going anywhere near her.

© 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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