Newstalk ZB Headlines - 10am
IBM Jobs To Go? - Jobs are likely to go at IBM as a result of the computer giant pulling out of the police INCIS project. The company has already been shaken by missing out on a $1.5 million contract with Telecom. Computer World magazine says the INCIS saga coming on top of that could mean tough times for those at IBM. Up to 300 jobs are speculated to be under threat. But New Zealand is small fry for the company. Worldwide, it turned over last year $162 billion and it employed 300,000 people around the globe.
WINZ Sends Deadman a Demand - A deadman has been sent a letter by WINZ asking for a day’s superannuation to be returned. The man died on June 28 but was paid superannuation until the 29th. Two weeks later WINZ sent him a letter asking for $21.69 back to recover that one day. The dead man’s daughter is angry that the letter was addressed to her father and not to her father’s estate. She says the request seems petty considering how small the amount is. WINZ, she says should look at its recent track record.
National’s Campaign Kicks Off - National is moving
into full on electioneering mode today with the first in a
series of visits to major provincial centres. The Heartland
Campaign is to start today in Blenhem with the Prime
Minister speaking to a street meeting. Over the next few
weeks National’s senior ministers will be taking its
election message to the provinces emphasising what they see
as the reasons to vote National. They will also claim that a
Labour, Alliance coalition will mean higher taxes and stifle
economic
growth.