NZQA Reports Out New CEO Appointed – David Butcher Sentenced – Primary Schools – Current Account – Rapist Teacher Dies – Goldmine Death – Horse Kiss Offer Refused

NZQA REPORTS OUT: Three reports released today strongly criticise the NZQA over payments made to its former CEO Dr Blackmur. Dr Blackmur received $160,000 before tax. Crown Law says the termination clause was not legally imposed even though the NZQA claims it was.

NZQA CEO: Dr Norman Kingsley has been appointed as new NZQA CEO.

DAVID BUTCHER: Former Labour cabinet minister David Butcher has been ordered to pay $9200 reparation and fined the maximum $10,000 after being found guilty of travel claims fraud.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS: Principals of primary schools may boycott a new national assessment test for primary schools if it is not considered acceptable. The government announced a pilot for the test yesterday.

CURRENT ACCOUNT: Statistics NZ says the current account deficit has deteriorated significantly. It has worsened $600 million from the previous quarter and is now at 6.3% of GDP.

RAPIST TEACHER DIES: A teacher who was convicted of raping and abusing several female pupils has died three years into his jail sentence at Waikeria Prison.

GOLDMINE DEATH: Police say a worker at the Waihi gold-mine has been crushed to death in an underground accident with a crane.

HORSE KISS OFFER REFUSED: A man accused of punching a horse on the nose has gone on trial after the New York police refused to accept a “kiss and make up” offer.

© 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.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

• Mobile - 021707044
• Twitter - @althecat
• Google+

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz