Prime Minister Helen Clark today said she was saddened by the sudden death of former Governor General Sir David Beattie. She paid tribute to his long and distinguished service in many areas of New Zealand life.

"Throughout his life Sir David served his country in a remarkably wide range of fields - the law, sports, arts and charities, and as Governor General.

"Even after his official retirement from public life, when his term as Governor General ended in 1985, Sir David kept contributing in his usual indefatigable and enthusiastic way.

"Among his achievements in a country passionate about sport, Sir David had the honour of serving as president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

"Sir David was also active in the arts, chairing the successful International Festival of the Arts from 1986 until 1990.

"Our thoughts are with Sir David's wife, Lady Beattie, and his family at this sad time," Helen Clark said.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>