The Press back issues from February 1998:
Police recover 1000 cannabis plants
Feb 02, 1998 ... Timaru police have recovered a further 1000 cannabis plants fromplots throughout South Canterbury after an aerial search. The latesthaul of plants follows the discovery last week of more than 300mature plants in dispersed outdoor plots and a hydroponic cannabisgrowing operation in ...
Thirsty stock drink up low water supply
Feb 02, 1998 ... Demand for stockwater in parts of South Canterbury is soaring asstock consume more water to survive the continuing hot, dry weather. Timaru District Council water manager Judy Blakemore said demandfor water in the Woodbury and Downlands districts had jumped 20 percent in the last ...
Produce wholesaler to close market
Feb 02, 1998 ... Produce wholesaler Turners and Growers Ltd is to close its Timarumarket with the loss of five jobs. Managing director Don Turner said the closure was part of anationwide restructuring programme which would also ...
Councillors to study security camera use
Feb 02, 1998 ... The Timaru District Council has moved closer to installingsecurity cameras for Timaru's central city. This month a delegation of Timaru district councillors willinspect Christchurch's inner-city security camera system to ...
Jailers defend home leave
Feb 02, 1998; ... Christchurch prison managers have vowed to keep the gate open forhome-leave privileges. Several inmates have failed to return from home leave this yearand a third of the 24 Christchurch inmates who escaped since Januarylast year absconded while on home or compassionate ...
Peacekeepers return home
Feb 02, 1998; ... Two months in the Bougainville jungles have left a deepimpressionon Christchurch-based peacekeepers. Major Garry Brosnan and Flight Lieutenant Sarah Hodges were amonga handful of New Zealand peacekeepers who returned home on Saturdayto an emotional welcome from friends and ...
Pier critic eats his words
Feb 02, 1998 ... ``I was wrong, wrong, wrong'' about the Christchurch Pier at NewBrighton, says former pier critic and Christchurch mayoral candidateCr Garry Moore. Cr Moore said that the enthusiastic public response since thepieropened in November and the increased retail activity and ...
Sinbad the sizzler
Feb 02, 1998 ... Although the tale of Sinbad the sailor is set in hot desertclimes, there are limits to how much method acting any cast shouldendure. Sizzling temperatures in Christchurch have proved too much forthecast of a SummerTimes outdoor theatre production of Sinbad at ...
Maori study centre opens at university
Feb 02, 1998 ... Brent Alexander issues a challenge during the opening of the newMaori student study centre at the University of Canterbury. MaoriStudent Association spokeswoman Potaua Tule said the new studycentre, Te Whare Akonga o Te Akatoki, was the crowning ...
DIARY
Feb 02, 1998; ... Picture perfect THE CANTERBURY winners of the 1997 Photogenic Children of theYearcontest were decided by public vote last week at the Riccarton Mall.The 33 children captured on camera by sponsoring photographic firmsMajor L. Tonkin and Beverley Studios will represent the province ...
Progress made by teachers
Feb 02, 1998; ... The primary teachers' union has postponed its members' meetings,which were to start today, after progress in pay talks with theGovernment. The president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, LizPatara, said things had progressed quickly in just one week. Primary teachers ...
Truck under as river rises
Feb 02, 1998 ... A recovery mission for an army truck stuck in the WaimakaririRiver foundered after daylight revealed the truck was completelysubmerged. Major Steve Odell said a group from Burnham Military Camp went tothe river early Saturday, hoping to beat the water from rainfall inthe Southern ...
Watching brief
Feb 02, 1998 ... Lyttelton Port Company is keeping a watching brief on theAustralian ports dispute. Lyttelton spokeswoman Erin Jamieson said the port company wouldnot speculate on what its customers and other shipping lines ...
Former surgeon abandons appeal bid
Feb 02, 1998 ... AUCKLAND -- Former Dunedin surgeon Tony Guy will not go aheadwithhis appeal against a Medical Council decision to strike him off. The appeal was to be heard in the High Court at Wellington today,but the action has been discontinued. In January 1995 the council removed Mr Guy ...
Games bid suicide ~ councillor
Feb 02, 1998 ... A Christchurch bid for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games would havebeen ``economic suicide'', a city councillor says. The bid, headed by Christchurch businessman Bruce Ullrich, failedon Friday after the Government refused to underwrite the project. Tourism Minister Murray McCully ...
Gay minister lauds appointment
Feb 02, 1998 ... The Methodist Church's first openly gay minister, David Bromell,believes his new appointment is a brave move. Dr Bromell, 41, was inducted as the Christchurch mission'ssuperintendent in a service last night. The Church had taken asignificant step towards justice at a cost to ...
School failure
Feb 02, 1998 ... Combating failure at school is the main aim of an internationalconference, which begins in Christchurch today at the Hotel GrandChancellor. Representatives from 21 countries will be at the ...
Sea lion pup toll at 1200
Feb 02, 1998 ... INVERCARGILL -- The Department of Conservation says more than1200dead hooker's sea lion pups have now been found on Dundas Island andEnderby Island, in the Auckland Islands group, south of New Zealand. A research team led by Nick Gales returned to the islandsyesterday for the ...
Thefts sour Chch visits
Feb 02, 1998 ... Two thefts have soured overseas tourists' stays in Christchurch. American pathologist Heinrich Schmid, 73, said he was in NewZealand for research and ``to fly the friendly skies''. He is rethinking his opinion of New Zealand after his near-newparaglider was stolen from his van ...
Thieves break through wall
Feb 02, 1998 ... TIMARU -- Thieves smashed through the exterior concrete wall of astrongroom and got away with a substantial amount of cash from aWaimate supermarket. Waimate police and Timaru CIB staff were investigating theincident yesterday. Constable Paul Brady, of Waimate, said it ...
Top salaries
Feb 02, 1998 ... Is it merely envy that drives the continuing criticism that somepeople in this country, whatever their skills, earn too much?Certainly some who begrudge CEOs annual salaries that rival theexpected lifetime earnings of lesser mortals may be motivated byjealousy. But not all critics are ....
Addressing the business of fatherhood
Feb 02, 1998; ... DAVID GEE talks to Chamber of Commerce CEO Peter Townsend aboutmixing work with parenthood. Peter Townsend, a leader of the business community, seems an oddchoice to be pushing the barrow for the Fathering the Future forum. Mr Townsend is the chief executive of the Canterbury ...
Inside Paparua Prison _ no bed of roses
Feb 02, 1998; ... Contrary to popular belief, life in a jail cell is tedious andbleak. MARTIN VAN BEYNEN reports. We are in East Wing, PaparuaPrison's toughest block. Most of the inmates here are servingsentences of more than seven years and the unit contains 25 lifers. Those who behave themselves ...
Rural fight over tolls to continue
Feb 02, 1998; ... The Waimakariri District Council's fight against Telecom'sincreased toll-call charges will continue despite the changes thatwent into effect yesterday. Waimakariri Mayor Janice Skurr says she has been almost ``drivenmad'' by the number of phone calls she has received from ...
Neighbours turn off mains
Feb 02, 1998 ... TIMARU -- Some Timaru homeowners suspected of breaking hosingrestrictions are having their water mains turned off by angryneighbours and passersby, the Timaru District Council says. The council's water manager, Judy Blakemore, said she hadreceivedreports of up to six water mains ...
Campers' deeds defended
Feb 02, 1998 ... The owners of the Waikuku Beach Holiday Park have defendedholidaymakers' and locals' actions during a fire despite criticismfrom the volunteer fire brigade. Petra and John Kneale said the Waikuku fire, which threatenedhomes and the holiday park on January 19 during the drought, ...
Claims `based on laughable survey'
Feb 02, 1998 ... Claims that the Resource Management Act is a barrier to newbusiness investment are based on a ``laughable'' survey, says LocalGovernment New Zealand chief executive Carol Stigley. An American Chamber of Commerce survey has been used as thesourcefor the claims. Ms Stigley said ...
Country toll call battle to run on
Feb 02, 1998 ... The Waimakariri District Council's fight against Telecom'sincreased toll-call charges will continue despite the changes thatwent into effect yesterday. Waimakariri Mayor Janice Skurr says she has been almost ``drivenmad'' by the number of phone calls she had received from ...
Hundreds gather for charity concert at winery
Feb 02, 1998 ... Australian opera singer Geoffrey Chard and Ruth Fraser, ofChristchurch, were among the 800 people who gathered at the PegasusBay Winery to enjoy a charity concert devoted to the fruit of thevine ....
Police may march in streets
Feb 02, 1998; ... Police could march in the streets to support their pay claim.Police Association president Greg O'Connor said yesterday policeofficers were so angry at the administration's pay offer that theywere prepared to take to the streets. Three of six Police Association regional meetings ...
Residents `gagged' over tower block
Feb 02, 1998 ... The Christchurch City Council is gagging residents over a plannedtower block development in Park Terrace, Christchurch Central MP TimBarnett says. Mr Barnett met 20 residents of the Inner City West NeighbourhoodAssociation yesterday to discuss last week's council hearing ...
Labour force will get older _ report
Feb 02, 1998 ... New Zealand's labour force is projected to grow to 2.24 millionby2019, up from 1.88m in 1996, says Government Statistician Len Cooksaid. The number is then expected to slowly fall to 2.11m by 2051. Mr Cook said the age structure of the labour force would becomeolder, especially ...
Teacher staff levels please trustees
Feb 02, 1998 ... School staffing nationally is good this year compared with 1996,when overseas teachers were recruited to fill vacancies, says theNewZealand School Trustees' Association. Association president JanetKelly said boards were pleased most of these overseas teachers hadrenewed their contracts ...
Rights commission confirms fishing complaint
Feb 02, 1998 ... NELSON -- The Human Rights Commission has confirmed receiving acomplaint from Nelson's Amaltal Fishing Company over specialpayments, aimed at helping Maori fishing students into employment. Amaltal lawyer Tony Stallard, of Nelson, said a formal complaintwas made on January ...
Sporting celebrities help raise $10,500 for Cystic Fibrosis; Association
Feb 02, 1998 ... Cricket superstar Sir Richard Hadlee eases the ball beyond thereach of rugby coach and aspiring wicketkeeper Robbie Deans during acharity cricket match at Hagley Oval yesterday ....
Warnings on woman `ignored'
Feb 02, 1998; ... A Christchurch woman is in Sunnyside Hospital facing charges forlighting a fire near her flat after repeated warnings she was atriskwere ignored, says Alliance MP Jim Anderton. The woman, who got two weekly half-hour visits from psychiatricworkers, had been living in a block of ...
Banks may leave National before election
Feb 02, 1998 ... AUCKLAND -- Whangarei MP John Banks will not stand as theNationalcandidate in Whangarei at the next election and will not rule outleaving the party beforehand. The renegade Whangarei MP and talkback radio host said it wastimeto move on from Whangarei, rekindle his business ...
Beneficiary work plan promoted
Feb 02, 1998 ... HAMILTON -- There is no reason why parents on benefits should notwork part-time while their children are at school, Deputy PrimeMinister Winston Peters says. The Treasurer and New Zealand First Leader told New Zealand DairyExpo trade exhibitors at Hamilton's Claudelands Showground ...
Fast action sought to save sea lions
Feb 02, 1998 ... INVERCARGILL -- The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society andGreenpeace are pleading with Fisheries Minister John Luxton tosuspend squid fishing in the Auckland Island region after themysterious deaths of about 1000 Hooker's sea lion pups. The Forest and Bird Society contacted ...
Injured worker slates safety plan
Feb 02, 1998 ... AUCKLAND -- A mining worker seriously hurt while working in anAuckland electricity supply tunnel has slammed construction methodsand safety procedures on the multi-million-dollar project. Guy Smallman, who lies paralysed in Auckland Hospital, yesterdayalleged that safety measures ...
Man killed on track
Feb 02, 1998 ... NEW PLYMOUTH -- A man killed after he was hit by a train inHaweramay have been asleep on the railway track, the police say. John Rodney Hearfield, 30, of Hawera, was killed after being hitby a freight train travelling from Palmerston North to New Plymouthabout 7.15am yesterday ...
Man's body found in Waikato River
Feb 02, 1998 ... A man's body has been found in the Waikato River north of Huntly,Hamilton police say. Senior Sergeant Ray Malcolmson said police had yet to establishwhether the body was that of a ...
Woman faces charge after baby left in car
Feb 02, 1998 ... A Whangarei woman faces a charge of neglecting a child after sheallegedly left her two-month-old baby in a car in a tavern car-park. Whangarei police Senior Sergeant Paul Zderich said the baby wasinthe rear of a car while ...
Laidlaw resigns from wildlife organisation
Feb 02, 1998 ... New Zealand World Wide Fund for Nature chief executive ChrisLaidlaw has resigned after four years with the conservationorganisation. A former All Black, Labour MP, and ...
Injuries, death after birthday-party brawl
Feb 02, 1998 ... A man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries and abystander collapsed and died after a brawl at a 21st birthday partyin Turangi. A man was admitted to Waikato Hospital with ...
Auckland ticket wins; entire top Lotto prize
Feb 02, 1998 ... An Auckland ticket won the entire $1,302,309 first-division prizein Lotto No. 550 drawn on Saturday. The winning numbers were: 1, 6, 22, 24, 26, 31. Bonus: 34.Prizes and number of prizes: Division one, $1,302,309; division two:$12,451 (14); division three: $716 (609); division ...
Needy family hit by car-seat theft
Feb 02, 1998 ... ROTORUA -- Mean-spirited thieves who stole a car seat inNgongotaha, near Rotorua, could not have picked on more vulnerabletargets. The seat they stole last week belonged to a toddler with cerebralpalsy and was badly needed by his mother to take him to care as herown health ...
Prison drug tests no solution ~ MP
Feb 02, 1998 ... WELLINGTON -- Mandatory drug testing in prisons will do nothingtostop jails becoming a revolving door for abusers, Opposition justicespokesman Phil Goff says. The Penal Institutions Amendment Act, passed by Parliament lastAugust, allows random testing of inmates from yesterday, ...
Qantas in bid to fly NZ routes
Feb 02, 1998 ... WELLINGTON -- Qantas is negotiating a deal with Ansett to allowitto fly domestic routes in New Zealand, but people hoping for cheaperfares are likely to be disappointed. The new airline -- possibly called Qantas New Zealand -- wouldreplace Ansett New Zealand and compete against ...
Surgeon hit with mallet
Feb 02, 1998 ... AUCKLAND -- Plastic surgeon Cary Mellow, who was hit in the facewith a mallet at his West Auckland surgery on Friday, has beendischarged from hospital. Mr Mellow, one of the country's leading plastic surgeons,sufferedserious facial injuries in the attack. Mr Mellow was ...
Tax deadline
Feb 02, 1998 ... WELLINGTON -- The Inland Revenue Department says it will acceptend-of-year tax payments up to and including Monday February 9, butsays anybody likely to have difficulty paying on or before shouldcontact it. Payments are due on ...
Unnecessary 111 calls irk police
Feb 02, 1998 ... AUCKLAND -- Police are to launch a major public educationcampaignthis year to try to stem unnecessary 111 calls. Deputy Commissioner Barry Matthews said only 60-70 per cent of111calls received required an immediate police response. The otherswere non-emergency calls which could ...
Urgent talks on prison deaths
Feb 02, 1998 ... AUCKLAND -- The Howard League for Penal Reform will call anurgentpublic meeting to discuss conditions at Mount Eden Prison after thejail's third death in custody in recent months. Prison inspectors are investigating the death of a remandprisoner, 18, at the jail ...
Electoral boundaries
Feb 02, 1998 ... The Representation Commission will meet next week to startsettingboundaries for the 67 electorates in the next general election.Owing to growth in the Maori electoral roll and New Zealand'spopulation, Maori seats will rise from five to six, ...
New army haka performed
Feb 02, 1998 ... HAMILTON -- The army's latest weapon has been unveiled at theWaiouru army base. Tu Taua a Tumatauenga, the army's new haka, was performed for thefirst time by 52 soldiers including five women on Saturday. The haka salutes Kiwi soldiers killed on battle grounds ...
Engines lifted from exhibit
Feb 02, 1998 ... Mechanical failures in some of the four remaining air forceAndovers has led to two engines being lifted from an aircraftdestined for the Air Force Museum. Flight Lieutenant Allan Jenkinson, of 42 Squadron at WhenuapaiAirBase, said the mechanical failures did not happen in flight, ...
Police to check radio quota for at-risk officers
Feb 02, 1998 ... WELLINGTON -- An urgent review of the allocation of policeportable radios has begun after some officers were placed at risk. Two police officers under attack had to dial 111 from a publicphone box because cash-strapped bosses could not provide them withradios. Assistant ...
Sugar & Spice sweetens the day; HORSE AND PONY BREEDERS SHOW
Feb 02, 1998 ... CANTERBURY HORSE & PONY BREEDERS' ANNUAL SHOW The Bailey Family's Thoroughbred mare Sugar & Spice has won thecoveted Isaac Wildlife Trust Trophy for champion of all breeds attheCanterbury Horse & Pony Breeders' Society Inc 25th Annual Show inChristchurch. The New Zealand ...
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Feb 02, 1998 ... Boys Brigade The 27th Christchurch Company Boys Brigade is having its firstmeeting for 1998 tonight at the New Brighton Union Parish churchhallfrom 6.30pm to 9pm. Boys Brigade provides a safe, disciplinedenvironment for six to 17-year-olds. All boys welcome. Courses for ...
Constitution review backed
Feb 02, 1998 ... NELSON -- Waitangi Fisheries Commission chairman Sir TipeneO'Regan supports calls for a national constitutional debate. Former Labour leader Mike Moore said last week he planned to putforward a member's bill which would set up a process to deal with araft of constitutional ...
Meeting to save lives
Feb 02, 1998 ... A series of road crashes and near-misses at the corner of DraperStreet, and Heywood and Harvey terraces, resulted in a communitymeeting being called at that spot on Saturday.. Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett and Hagley Ward councillorAnna Crighton called the ...
New museum free for some
Feb 02, 1998 ... WELLINGTON -- When the Museum of New Zealand opens on February 14admission will be free -- but there will not be much change from$140for a family of four trying all of its attraction rides. Preliminary prices for the hi-tech Time Warp area -- Blastback,Future Rush and Present ...
THIS WEEK
Feb 02, 1998 ... GENERAL Wednesday: The governor of the Reserve Bank, Don Brash, appearsbefore Parliament's finance and expenditure committee. StatisticsNew Zealand external migration data for December. Thursday: SNZ household labour force survey for December quarter.Reserve Bank bond tender ...
EXCHANGE RATES
Feb 02, 1998 ... 0.5572 0.8692 7.44 22.02 0.6575 0.8580 252.44 4.8303 4.06421.09463.2261 3.5793 168.71 1.0692 4.5249 21.9893 5795.61 985.49 668.720.4259 2.0009 1052.62 73.45 ...
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Feb 02, 1998 ... Wall Street Friday, January 30, ($US).-- Abbott Labs 703/4, Alcan 291/2,AluCo763/8, Alliedsignal 385/8, Alumax 345/8, AMB Property 243/8, AmEx833/4, American General 563/8, AmHomePr 951/2, AmHess 543/4, AmerInt1101/4, Ameritech 425/8, AnheuserB 445/8, Armco 43/4, Asarco ...