TV3 News

Thursday, 17 June 1999, 6:24 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

1. NZQA: Accusation of more golden handshakes at the NZQA. Alliance MP Grant Gillon made the claim in Parliament. Yesterday the government tried to head off this latest scandal. The Alliance isn't letting go. Gillon's question follows revelations about Douglas Blackmur. Sir Neil Walters is worried about the restaurant bill but nothing else. "Once a contract is signed I believe it is moral and ethical to honor it." Birch in Parliament said the government did not approve of golden handshakes. Walters said he had no choice but to go.

2. LAND SLIP: Wellington demonstrates how a major earthquake would cut the capital off. The slip occurred near . Tonnes of rock still covered the road this afternoon. Slop occurred just after rush hour. Major commuter problems caused. Main trunk rail line also closed for an hour. Heavy vehicles getting stuck on Paekakariki hill. Trucks start moving around midday. Road is now open.

3. SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: Judge made a rare direction to the jury today. Justice Heron warned the Jury that they should not judge the character of the accused on the basis of evidence heard yesterday. Justice Heron said the expressions and conversations would become relevant later but his conduct on the night several days before the disappearance was not. Boat owners at Furneaux Lodge

4. KOSOVO: Scale of atrocities worse than initially expected. Kosovo's refugees are coming home. Serbian military are gone. Refugees are very happy. 1000 an hour are coming back from Albania alone. Coming home to horror. Three mass graveyards found. Hundreds killed in one village. Families mourn as they arrive home. Kosovars also coming back from the mountains. Medical student searches for graves of his family. KLA rebels are sharing streets with NATO. NATO officer says both groups are in control.

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5. KOSOVO: Reporter taken by villagers into bush where 24 young men killed and dumped down a well and the well was blown up. War crimes investigators are starting their work. Detective in charge of investigation begins gathering evidence.

6. KOSOVO: Refugees say they slept on buses because their accommodation was substandard. Police escort family off bus to police station. Pauline Hanson says the refugees should be sent home. People on the street do not have much sympathy for the refugee's complaints. "Ungrateful" says one.

Other news

7. CAR FIRE: Toddler dies in car fire in South Auckland. Parents bring 3-year-old boy out but 3-year-old girl dies. Boy in hospital with severe burns. 14 children have died in fires in last five years.

8. CHCH FIRE: Arson believed to be the cause of fire in a Christchurch

9: AIRWAYS: Complaints at user charges imposed by Airways corporation.

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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