Dairy Mega-Merger – Noel Mackenzie Murder – Super Changes – Same Sex Unions – Abortion Ethics – Northland Fatal Fire – Instant Fines For Food Carriers – Donkey Cruelty – Steve Fossett’s Baloon Crashes

DAIRY MEGA MERGER GETS GREEN LIGHT: The NZ Dairy Industry has changed forever. 75% of farmers needed to vote in favour of the merger. More than 80% voted yes. 83% of Kiwi farmers voted yes and 85% of NZDG farmers voted yes. There has been some nervousness in the final couple of weeks. Even those against the merger say they will now support it. The new Dairy Company will represent 7% of NZ’s GDP. The PM says the vote is great news. Legislation will be introduced to enable the merger to go ahead.

MERGER FOR THE CONSUMER: Global Co. must sell off 50% of its domestic market assets in order to comply with Government requirements for competition in the NZ domestic market. Global Co. will also have several other restrictions on its ability to run a monopoly in NZ.

NOEL MACKENZIE MURDER: The family of a brutally slain Tauranga man have made a public plea for the killer of Noel Mackenzie to be given up. 64-year-old Mackenzie was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack in his bed. Anne Mackenzie say the killer was a tall Pakeha with a shaved head who must have been covered with blood when he arrived home. Police have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries today.

SUPER CHANGES: Cabinet has approved some changes to its super bill in order to assure it of the support of NZ First.

SAME SEX UNIONS: Moves are underway to legalise same sex unions, as if they were marriages. The Civil Union Bill is sponsored by gay MP Tim Barnett. Gay couples will not be allowed to marry – as gays are able to in Holland. The PM says she is very sympathetic to the bill.

ABORTION ETHICS: The NZ Medical Association is advising doctors that it is unethical to terminate a baby simply on the basis of its sex.

NORTHLAND FATAL FIRE: The latest fatal house fire in Northland looks like it was started by a candle. The house did not have electricity, but not because of a shortage of money. Rather candles were thought safer by the residents, says a family member.

INSTANT FINES FOR FOOD: 12 travellers fell foul of new laws that came into force today providing instant fines for people who bring foodstuffs into the country.

DONKEY CRUELTY: The RNZSPCA says that a fine against a man for cruelty to his donkey is insufficient. They have written to the government.

STEVE FOSSETT’S BALOON CRASHES: A plan to fly a balloon solo around the world was destroyed by a sudden 10knt gust of wind in Western Australia this morning. Steve Fossett says the season for the launch runs only till the end of July, meaning he will not be able to make his attempt this year. The Chicago billionaire has hinted his quest to fly around the world is now over.

ENDS

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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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