| News
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Kiwis
are being warned to avoid
travelling to Indonesia unless absolutely
essential, following the suicide bombing of the Australian
embassy in Jakarta and fears of further attacks. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs dithered for several days
before making the warning, during which time the PM
took the unusual step of issuing her own warning over
the heads of her officials.
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| Government
spending (and lack of it) has been under the media
spotlight, after news that cardiac surgery was being delayed
because of a nurse
shortage while $500 million of last year's
health budget went unspent. |
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| On
the other hand, the Auditor-General criticised
the Government's decision to spend $21 million on advertising
its 2004 Budget. The opposition are calling this taxpayer
funded propaganda. |
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| Following
the Govt's example, Kiwis have continued their own long
shopping spree according to surprisingly
strong growth stats. The Reserve Bank - unable to
sleep at night worrying about inflation - has boosted
interest rates in response. This is likely to slow growth
and keep the dollar high. At the same time, the Bank is
considering lightening shoppers' loads and streamlining
the sweet-buying process by abolishing
five cent coins altogether. |
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| Politicians
of all stripes have been falling over themselves to condemn
the decision to award thousands of dollars to mistreated
prisoners. Including expenses, the whole drama
has cost the taxpayer around $1 million. |
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NZ
On Air revealed
it has yet to receive any of its 'loan' back from the
producers of NZ Idol. Needing to support unique
home-grown television, the taxpayer-funded agency gave
$450,000 to the show, which follows the exact format
of 'Idol' shows in 29 other countries.
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| And
Tau Henare's interview show for Maori Television
has been pulled
off air, for now, after the producers of British
comedy chat-show "The Kumars at No.42"
claimed it was a rip-off. The British show features interviews
with guests interrupted by interjections from the host's
wisecracking parents and grandmother in a domestic setting.
The Henare show features interviews with guests interrupted
by interjections from the host's wisecracking nephew in
a garden shed setting. |
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| Sport |
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| The
rugby NPC competition continues to delight and
amaze. Over the last fortnight: Taranaki maintained its
unlikely place at the top of the table, Waikato beat Auckland
(but who hasn't this season?) and the Ranfurly Shield
slipped from the fingers of Bay of Plenty and returned
to its more sensible home in Canterbury. Table. |
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| The
Black Caps demolished the feeble USA in their opening
game of the knock-out Champions Trophy one-day cricket
tournament in the UK. We're pitched against Australia
next. It's a sizable step up but Scott Styris is putting
on a brave face. |
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| And
there are promising signs that Jonah Lomu, recovering
from a not-a-moment-too-soon kidney transplant, will
again play for the All Blacks. He's hungry,
only 29, and still enormous. |
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| Only
in New Zealand |
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| With
the Government distracted over the Foreshore and Seabed
and the US bogged down in Iraq, a Maori group has claimed
the universe - and even plans to inform NASA
of their newly realised ownership. The plucky move would
give the group jurisdiction over domestic air travel and
passing satellites, if successful. It's not expected to
be successful. |
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| A
Christchurch teenager who controversially grabbed supermodel
Rachel Hunter's breast as she passed him at a shopping
mall may
be punished by having to meet her face to face. |
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| Barista
Raphael Ross of Christchurch will be cursing the honesty
of an anonymous do-gooder who found his dropped wallet
and handed it in to police. Ross is now facing
drug charges for the three envelopes of speed
stashed in the wallet. |
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| And
the Pope got his arms swinging on the topic of
New Zealand society, claiming
we're too materialistic and should spend Sundays recharging
spiritually, not pursuing entertainment - such as watching
Sunday afternoon Shell Helix Motorsport (that last part's
not a direct quote). Helen Clark was philosophical about
the criticisms, claiming that the Pope had "strong
religious views." |
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