TV1 News

One Tree Hill – Lamb Tariffs – Missing Student – Staunch Norm

- ONE TREE HILL: The lone pine on One Tree Hill has been cut down today. It dominated the hill for over 120 years. Many Aucklanders are mourning the tree – it was an icon for the city. The day began with a farewell from Ngati Whatua. With tributes left near the tree, the contractors moved in. Helicopters airlifted sections of the tree away. Workers said the job was difficult and dangerous, especially in today’s windy conditions. A pohutakawa growing out of the tree has been saved. Some locals are angered at the suddenness of the removal – it was announced only yesterday. The pine will be replaced and the City Council is asking for suggestions for what kind of tree should replace it. The replacement has to be hardy to survive on the exposed site. Hot favourites are a pohutakawa or a totara. The wood from the tree is being taken away and it is not known what will be done with it, except it will not be disposed of. Many people have grabbed chips for souvenirs.

- LAMB TARIFFS: Kiwi lamb producers are celebrating a leaked interim report that reveals the WTO wants US tariffs on Lamb imports to be cut. Findings are still open to appeal. The document is to be tabled in December.

- MISSING STUDENT: Police trying to find Hamilton student Cameron Murray, who disappeared from the pub on the weekend, admit he has gone missing before. He often left the pub without warning and refused to tell his flatmates where he had been.

- STAUNCH NORM: Wellington Lions Captain Norm Hewitt is under fire from ACC Minister Ruth Dyson for playing on with a broken arm in Saturday’s NPC final. She said he was acting foolishly and sett a bad example. National called her attack wowserish whinging. Norm wasn’t keen to get into the argument.

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