TV3 News

Thursday, 27 April 2000, 6:17 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Avalanche - Avalanche Victim - Cave Creek Anniversary - Cancer Inquiry - Germain Greer Attacked - Bee Mites - Zimbabwe

AVALANCHE: The bodies of two young climbers have been recovered in the Southern Alps. Two survivors were higher up the mountain. Ben Gaston dug out his friend the other survivor they searched for their two companions unsuccessfully. They may have survived if they had had avalanche transmitters. A local expert says the only predictable things about avalanches is their unpredictability. A friend who was supposed to be up the mountain too is relieved he wasn't. Relatives gathered at the Twizel police station as news came through the bodies had been found.

AVALANCHE VICTIM: Teachers and students of Logan Park High School remember former pupil John Howarth. He had been very keen on a mountaineering course at the School. Former teacher says he admires how Ben Gaston handled the tragedy. The course is still going strong.

CAVE CREEK ANNIVERSARY: On the anniversary of Cave Creek a radical law change is planned to make Government Departments liable to prosecution for similar accidents in the future. Parents are gathering in Greymouth tomorrow for the anniversary. They received an apology today from Conservation Minister Sandra Lee who said she had a moral duty to atone.

CANCER INQUIRY: Under reporting of cervical smears in NZ is far higher than previously thought. Dr Bottrill's rate of reporting of high level abnormalities was 0.6%. Five other laboratories have similar low rates of reporting. Late today the inquiry suppressed the names of the five other laboratories. Q: Is there reason to be concerned? I don't know but the HFA is treating this as a high priority.

GERMAIN GREER ATTACKED: A 19-year-old woman has been charged with assaulting feminist author Germain Greer.

BEE MITES: Canada today agreed to accept bee imports from New Zealand. Arataki Honey is able to export again. Canada already has the mites. Bee Keepers are pleased. The number of infected properties remains at 20.

ZIMBABWE: Three more opposition party activists have been bashed to death. Tobacco sale is down two thirds on last years size. Some tobacco barns have been burnt. A senior official in Mugabe's party today suggested the white's might want to return to white rule. Economic problems is driving support to the opposition, five of whom have been killed in the last three days.

© 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.

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