CHEST INQUIRY: Chest hospital inquiry findings show treatment was incorrectly introduced. No parents consent required at the time. Inquiry found in some cases unsupervised nurses it had over vigorously applied the treatment prior to 1993. Disciplinary action is now before the professional bodies. Helen Cull says thoughts are with the families. Lawyers want compensation.

COURT EVACUATED: Wanganui District Court evacuated after toilet blocked, cell flooded and pepper spray was used to subdue the prisoner. The spray drifted upstairs from the cells and caused the whole building to be evacuated.

SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: Mothers of victims give evidence in Scott Watson trial Jan Hope. “I had a very special relationship with Olivia she was very loving.” Mrs Hope says she was not involved in the search for her daughter. Mary Smart told the court her son had many friends from different walks of life.

SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: Andi Brotherston Live: A new phase of trial. We have finished boat owners and will now hear from 100 people who had encounters with Ben and Olivia at the party. The key witnesses will give evidence last these are the last six people on the water taxi who last saw Ben Smart and Olivia Hope. Trial is now up to witness 186 – the key witnesses begin at 370.

PETER ELLIS: Peter Ellis Appeal – Judith Ablett Kerr says a detective was under serious pressure.

PARAPARAUMU LAND PROTEST: Court appearance for 23 land protesters arrested after a week long occupation of land in Paraparaumu. 30 Maori moved in on the land and were arrested by 25 police officers last night. The protestors say the land was not offered back before it was sold to a development company. In 1995 it was sold to Paraparaumu Airport Limited. Spokesman for company says several blocks of land have been offered back to original owners but have been turned down. There will be a meeting later this week between protesters and the company.

FLU: New flu now causing problems in South Island. The A strain previously hit Auckland a month ago. Only now effecting Christchurch. Another cold snap is likely to push up admissions again says Dr. There is some risk of a B Strain virus then bringing a second wave of the virus north.

BIG SNOW: Cold snap disappeared overnight in Queenstown. Temperature soared to 9 degrees and low lying snow melted.

US: Hundreds treated for heatstroke in the US.

CHINA: China beset with floods. Animals rescued from Zoo.

BUZZY BEE: Americans claim buzzy bee as their own. Found in an antique shop in the US. Fisher Price claim to make first buzzy bee in 1950. NZ’s buzzy been began in mid 40s. Historian says Buzzy Bee probably invented here but in any event it is ours now. For kids all that matters is whose got the string.

© 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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