TV3 News

Wednesday, 26 April 2000, 6:19 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Otago Crash - Timor Death - Cancer Inquiry - West Coast Compensation - Zimbabwe - ANZAC Dollar

OTAGO CRASH: The youngest victim of the Otago air crash died after fulfilling a dream - seeing the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow. Sister tells story of how much her brother 13-year-old Timothy wanted to see the Warbirds show. Timothy had been aiming for his own career in aviation and had been helping his father build an airplane for several years. Timothy died on his way to hospital after the crash Monday which killed six.

TIMOR DEATH: Staff Sergeant Bill White was killed and three others injured when his truck went off a Suai road. Troops in East Timor have been devastated by the death coming as it did on Anzac Day. The death is the second in East Timor and the second in a truck accident. Mark Burton says the country's thoughts are with Mr White's wife and family.

CANCER INQUIRY: Most of today was taken up with issue of who if anyone was responsible for quality in the cancer smear screening programme. Several letters talk about concerns about problems with pathology laboratories. Asked why the alarm bells had not gone off Bob Boyd replied, "It didn't appear to have raised the alarm that we now see. Q: It should have though? A: Ideally it should have."

WEST COAST COMPENSATION: West Coast Mayors are poised to reject a $100 million offer of compensation. Concerns over Maori representation on the trust and an obligation to give Maori jobs first from trust funded business activities. TV3 Poll shows 48% believe the government should compensate 40% think they shouldn't. 45% think the sum in the offer $100 million is "about right". 19% think it is too little. Greenies are not impressed with West Coast leaders comments.

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ZIMBABWE: Memorial service held for white farmer David Stevens. Family remember the farmer with his favourite songs. The farm is still unapproachable. Mr Stevens an opposition supporter was tortured and shot. The Chaplain poored scorn on the authorities description of the killing as an "incident". A very public ceremony cameras were invited. Wheat planting has not started and bread shortages are now expected.

ANZAC DOLLAR: Shared currency in 10 years predicted in book published today. Authors of the book say 80% of surveyed businesses support one currency. Names suggested inclide Zav or Tasman. Small businesses are particularly keen on the idea. The Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton says that the step would almost mean "full integration" with Australia and there needs to be a big debate.

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

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