Landmark Employment Decision – Accountable Departments – Rapist Policeman – Gas Explosion – Bus Chase

- LANDMARK EMPLOYMENT DECISION: In a landmark court ruling, the Court of Appeal has ruled that the New Zealand Herald can sack reporter Rick Oram for making one mistake, where a photograph was wrongly captioned. Unions are warning that it sets a precedent that workers can be sacked for one mistake. A journalism lecturer has said it was harsh decision as the newspaper’s system of checks and balances fell down, allowing the mistake to go to press. Business commentators have said a new precedent has not been set – it has always been the case that if an employer feels it cannot trust an employee they can be dismissed.

- ACCOUNTABLE DEPARTMENTS: Government departments and crown agencies are facing more pressure to be accountable for their mistakes, in a move prompted by the cave creek disaster. ACT says new legislation will see the government suing itself, with no one winning as the money goes round in a loop.

- RAPIST POLICEMAN: A woman who was raped by policeman Colin McLean says she’s disgusted he is still being paid.

- GAS EXPLOSION: Three Auckland men are in hospital with burns after a gas main explosion on the North Shore.

- BUS CHASE: LA police are questioning a man after a highway chase involving a hijacked bus, where one woman was killed and six others injured.