Boating Accident – Snowboarder Found – LAV IIIs – Power Crisis – The Boot Remembered – Dunedin Dinosaur Premiere

BOATING ACCIDENT: A boat capsized in the Bay of Plenty at Maketu today killing one man. Two others survived the accident.

SNOWBOARDER FOUND: A Kiwi snowboarder has been found after being lost overnight in Australia. Julian Lai said he had been thinking about bacon and eggs all night. He built a shelter out of ferns to keep himself warm. He heard searchers but thought he was halucinating.

LAV IIIS: The cost of the Army’s new army vehicles may be going up again. German vehicle manufacturer Henschel wants compensation for its participation in a bogus tender. The tender cost $2 million for the company to put together. A former deputy secretary of defence is supporting the claim. More allegations have emerged today of attempts to cover up what went on. MP Ron Mark says he has been contacted by people inside saying that documents have been shredded. Defence Minister would not comment on the matter today, nor would Army chief Major General Dodson. A Parliuament inquiry is looking increasingly likely.

POWER CRISIS: Power Crisis watchdogs finally have something to smile about. Lake levels are stabilising and power savings are up. Yesterday lake inflows were well above average. Yesterday’s savings were 13.7%. Despite improving lake levels MCo says it is no time for complacency. Weatherman Augie Auer also says we are not out of winter yet. Longer term the advice is that households will need to keep being careful through next year.

THE BOOT REMEMBERED: More than 60 former All Blacks gathered today at Auckland’s Eden Park to honour Don “The Boot” Clarke. Clarke has returned from South Africa for a test match against South Africa after being diagnosed with cancer. Colin Meads and Brian Lochore paid tributes. This was the biggest gathering of All Blacks from one of the golden times of All Black rugby. Clarke’s wife and children were with him today.

DUNEDIN DINOSAUR PREMIERE: Dunedin is dusting off the glad rags today for the premiere of Jurassic Park III. The premiere is raising funds for Dunedin’s Children’s Hospital unit. Actor Sam Neil who stars in the movie has organised the premiere. Neil welcomed several other stars to the event at the airport today including Tim Finn, Temuera Morrison, Midge Marsden and Bic Runga. A Tuatara was invited but organisers didn’t want to pay his appearance fee.

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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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