Christine Rankin – Hostage Drama – Public Service Bonuses - Flu

CHRISTINE RANKIN: The Crown told the Employment Court Christine Rankin’s performance was the problem, not her appearance, in the second day of the Work and Income Department CEO’s $818,000 grievance case. Meanwhile, the opposition tried to force debate on the subject in the House today.

HOSTAGE DRAMA: There has been praise for a team of police negotiators who spent six hours convincing an alleged hostage-taker into releasing a woman and child unharmed before surrendering himself.

PUBLIC SERVICE BONUSES: The Government announced today that state sector performance bonuses will be phased out.

FLU: Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland has suspended non-urgent surgery because of a shortage of beds as it deals with a winter flu epidemic.