Paine Stewart Plane Crash – East Timor: UN Mandate – East Timor: Christmas Boxes For Troops – Coromandel – Voting Intentions Poll – Quake

PAINE STEWART CRASH: A bizarre plane crash kills US Golf Open champion Paine Stewart. The Lear Jet went off course after requesting permission to climb to 39,000 feet. It was bound for Dallas but crashed in South Dakota. Plane reached altitude of 46,000 feet. Out of control. Airforce planes went up to inspect. Suspected that the plane depressurized. President was watching the plane crash and later he paid tribute to the great golfer. Two times US Golf Open champion Stewart was a member of the Ryder Cup Team and one of Golf’s more flamboyant characters.

EAST TIMOR - UN MANDATE: NZ forces are joining a larger peace-keeping force authorised by the UN. The UN has committed itself to 9000 soldiers and 1700 police force. NZ troops will stay where they are but now under UN control. The budget for the operation is $1 billion a year for two years. NZ is likely to receive reimbursement for part of its costs.

EAST TIMOR – CHRISTMAS BOXES:: Christmas for troops will include a taste from home. Boxes being filled for soldiers with goodies. Kiwi content the key to the success of boxes. Marmite. But no beer in the Christmas packs. Army says boxes will be sent by the end of this week.

COROMANDEL: Coromandel wrangle continues. Alliance says that not having a voice on the campaign trail is a mistake. ACT has pulled out of Tauranga and Coromandel – National Wellington Central. Labour campaign director says campaign for list vote is well underway in Coromandel. Bunkle says the way to return MPs they like to the house is by giving the party vote.

VOTING INTENTIONS: Poll shows 89% of Kiwis intend to vote. 81% of eligible people voted last election. You have till tomorrow to get on the printed roll thereafter you will have to cast a special vote.

QUAKE: Earthquake 6.3 on Richter scale centred 164 km underground shakes Auckland to Christchurch. At epicenter Taupo it was felt but some didn’t feel a thing. It was big. But very deep. As strong as Edgecumbe. Rattling flagpole in Wellington.

© 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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