Medical Misadventure – Ross Armstrong – Maori Fisheries – Northland Shooting – Christine Rankin – Middle East Peace – Northern Ireland – Kaikoura Road - Wimbledon

MEDICAL MISADVENTURE: The Accident Compensation Corporation is investigating whether a Northland woman had several cervical smears misread. A 39-year-old mother of three who was diagnosed for cancer in 1995 has been refused a claim for medical misadventure. She had earlier had two smears misread.

ROSS ARMSTRONG: The future of the NZ Post chair Ross Armstrong may be decided today. The Minister Mark Burton says he will sack board members if necessary. Political staff suggest that Dr Armstrong may have to go. National’s Bill English thinks all the rest of the board will be sacked.

MAORI FISHERIES: A lawyer representing urban Maori groups in a case to the Privy Council on fisheries asset distribution says the government should now step into the dispute. Donna Hall says that while the ruling is a setback it highlights failures in the Maori Fisheries Commission.

NORTHLAND SHOOTING:A 14-year-old boy is talking to detectives after a fatal shooting in Northland. A 37-year-old victim died at the scene.

CHRISTINE RANKIN: The man who headed an inquiry into Work and Income last year, former State Services Commissioner Don Hunn, is to give evidence to the Christine Ranking employment court case today. Yesterday Mr Wintringham said he believed Mr Hunn’s inquiry was ordered in haste by a government who wanted to get rid of Rankin.

MIDDLE EAST PEACE: The UN Middle East Envoy says that the shaky ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is in danger of breaking down altogether after two days of violence. Palestinian gunmen have shot a settleer and claimed responsibility for two car bombs. The bombs went off hours after an Israeli helicopter attack on a car, killing three. Meanwhile in Gaza city a 15-year-old boy has been shot dead by Israeli forces.

NORTHERN IRELAND: The most hotly contested Protestant Orange Order Parade has been banned from marching down a road in Portadown. The ban comes as the peace process faces growing pressure.

KAIKOURA ROAD: A preliminary report by Transit NZ has found that more passing lanes may be justified between Kaikoura and Blenheim. The sites identified will be investigated to see whether they are financially viable.

WIMBLEDON: Their have been two upsets at Wimbledon. Seeded players Pete Sampras and Roger Hewitt were both defeated in the quarter finals.

© 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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