TV3 News

Thursday, 16 March 2000, 6:18 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Marlborough Diving Deaths - Gavin Dash - Sewer Deaths Fines - Sydney Oil Fine - Air New Zealand - Timberlands - HFA Rent Bill - Royal Portraits Row

MARLBOROUGH DIVING DEATHS: The Marlborough dive company involved in the death of three divers at French Pass has spoken out for the first time. The divers thought the current was flowing the other way - away from the hole into which the divers were dragged - three of them to their death.

GAVIN DASH: Police have admitted they made a mistake in not putting enough resources into the investigation of the disappearance of Gavin Dash. Police are still looking for carpet at the tip. Policeman says that they are now trying to put it right. District Commander visited Auckland and gave Dash's family a hug and said sorry.

SEWER DEATHS FINE::Auckland company Aquatech has been fined $30,000 over the death of two employees in a sewer last year. 13 months after Waitangi Day 1999 when two men died after being overcome by gas in a sewer. Wife finds it hard to talk about her husbands death. OSH says the men died due to a lack of a appreciation of the hazards they were facing.

SYDNEY OIL FINE: The owner of the Italian ship responsible for the oil slick in Sydney Harbour has been fined $600,000. The owners have already paid out $5.5 million in cleanup costs.

AIR NEW ZEALAND: The PM is not prepared to comment about a meeting with Singapore Airlines last night concerning its desire to buy more than 25% of Air New Zealand. The government says that selling more than 25% to Singapoer Airlines would compromise the government's ability to negotiate air traffic agreements.

TIMBERLANDS: Timberlands West Coast is in more trouble with the Government after admitting that Kit Richards - a former employee - has been employed as a consultant.

HFA RENT BILL: Taxpayers may get stuck with a massive rent bill when the HFA gets permanently evicted. The HFA is on track to being disbanded but has a six year lease to run in Wellington. Overall the HFA is committed to $2.5 million a year for six years. Minister Annette King says it will do its best to try to offload the rent bill.

ROYAL PORTRAITS: A midnight raid on Auckland City Council's royal portraits has led to calls to remove the Cabinet Room's portrait of Queen Elizabeth. National MP John Carter is keen to keep the portrait. Keith Locke of the Greens wants to remove it. The PM agrees that the Queen should stay as long as she is head of state.

© Scoop Media

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.

Contact Alastair Thompson

• Linkedin
• Twitter - @althecat
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz