Plane Crash Report – West Coast Slip – Scott Watson Sentencing – East Timor – Parliament – Bill Birch – Indian Elections – Health Contracts – Fluoride – Bus Strike – Aida Settlement

PLANE CRASH REPORT: A report into the accident of a Cessna crash on Pitt Island has recommended that passengers in small low flying planes should wear life-jackets.

MUSIC VOUCHERS: A million dollars worth of music vouchers are now believed to be useless after the collapse of Music Traders who issued Musicman music vouchers. The collapse is the latest blow to holders of vouchers. David Russel says voucher money should be held in trust.

WEST COAST SLIP: Geologist says the slip on the West Coast is stable. Families have moved back into their houses downstream. However the geologist says the slip could still burst leading to a massive flood.

SCOTT WATSON SENTENCING: The crown’s request for a longer than 10 year non-parole period for Scott Watson has been adjourned – believed to be because Watson arrived late for his sentencing.

EAST TIMOR – TROOPS DEPARTING: 64 soldiers and airman are leaving Ohakea around now for Darwin and East Timor. Family and friends say goodbye and say they are not overly concerned about the soldiers safety.

PARLIAMENT: Valedictory speeches in Parliament and adjournment debate. PM Jenny Shipley thanks retiring colleagues and Alamein Kopu. Helen Clark says public respect for Parliament has been undermined by party hoppers like Kopu.

BILL BIRCH: After 27 years as an MP Sir William Birch leaves with a warning saying that MMP is unstable.

INDIAN ELECTIONS: India’s elections have been won by the BJP but the ruling party has a slim majority. The BJP says it is wiser from the experience. Indian shares have rallied.

HEALTH CONTRACTS: Capital Coast Health has signed its purchasing contract with the HFA including $20 million in new funding. Capital Coast Health now expects to break even.

FLUORIDE: One of the last areas in NZ with unfluoridated water has now lost its untreated supply. Residents do not want fluoride in their supply.

BUS STRIKE: Auckland’s bus company Stagecoach says it is unwilling to work with a mediator to resolve its dispute with its bus drivers.

AIDA SETTLEMENT: 2000 people taking action against the organisers of Aida concert (held in Auckland two years ago) because they could not see the opera from their seats have settled out of court and are not saying what they received.

© 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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