Kirsty Bentley - NZ Growing Too Fast - Ernest Adams - Timberlands - Tauranga - Hokianga Murders - Flash Flood Memorial - Joseph Heller - Cameraman Dies - Baby-Free Café - Kitten Rescue

KIRSTY BENTLEY: Progress in the search for the killers of Kirsty Bentley. Police release description of men seen in a Green Commer van around the time of Kirsty's disappearance. The van was also seen near where her body was found. Witnesses have seen the van with three Maori males of medium build, one with threequarter length dreads. A caucasian man in his 20s in a vest also seen with the van. Police want public to come forward with more sightings of the suspects.

NZ GROWING TOO FAST: Dr Michael Cullen's first public speech at an Erriccsson function is used to say the economy is growing too fast. Next week's GDP figures will show a very vibrant third quarter Dr Cullen says. Former Treasurer Bill English and economist Alex Sundakov are not surprised. Likely to see a June rather than a may budget.

ERNEST ADAMS: 150 jobs lost in hostile takeover of Ernest Adams.

TIMBERLANDS: Greens accuse Timberlands of trying to sneak around the incoming Labour Government. Jeanette Fitzsimmons says it was an attempt to tie the hands of an incoming government. The allegation is denied by Timberlands that says it is a conincidence. Pete Hodgson says he doesn't want to be drawn on the question of the date of the contracts as more lawsuits may follow - he says he will

TAURANGA: Recount in Tauranga underway. Electoral Officer thinks the count will take three days. Parliament cannot sit until the recount is completed.

HOKIANGA MURDERS: Trevor Mokoraka's funeral in Hokianga. He went to the aid of a woman being attacked by a man who had earlier killed her two children. Family of Trevor are pleased with the recognition given by the community and say their father and husband was a hero.

FLASH FLOOD MEMORIAL: Memorial unveiled at the site of the Swiss canyoning disaster five months ago.

JOSEPH HELLER: Joseph Heller author has died aged 76. Author of Catch-22 the book that defined the no-win paradox. People know what the phrase means but do not know its origins. Few in the street know who Heller is.

CAMERAMAN DIES: Derek McKendry chief news cameramen at TV3 for several years - before moving to TVNZ - dies aged 58 of a heart attack. Derek had been everywhere - done everything.

BABY-FREE CAFÉ: Café row in Queenstown at café where the manager has banned babies for putting their fingers in the sugar bowl. Atomic Café in Ponsonby say it is silly. Some mums can understand however. Roger McClay says it is definitely bad taste - children are good for business he says. The Human Rights Commission hasn't received a complaint yet.

KITTEN: Kitten survives getting stuck in Australian car.

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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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