TV3
- Power Prices - The government is calling a meeting of the electricity industry on Friday, to discuss the country's worsening power problem. It's been prompted by the continuing low levels of some hydro lakes, and concern about what will happen if there's no rain in the next few weeks. Lake levels are still far below usual levels in the South Island - with little hope of rain in the next few weeks. That's prompted Energy Minister Pete Hodgson to call a meeting of industry players this Friday. The meeting will look at whether it's time to start seriously conserving energy. But the business sector wants the Minister to take a look at wholesale electricity prices. Hawkes Bay's biggest timber processor's cutting pulp production by 60%. It's power bill has doubled.
- Suicide Numbers Drop - New Zealand's youth suicide figures have dropped, for the first time in 14 years. That's the good news....the bad news is that our youth suicide rate is still second only to Finland in the OECD. And while the number of young males committing suicide has dropped, the number of young women killing themselves has increased.
- Airline Grounded - The Civil Aviation Authority has grounded a small Auckland airline for flying without proper commercial pilots licenses and failing to do adequate maintenance. Waiheke Airservices operates 2 commercial aircraft between Auckland City and the Hauraki Gulf island of Waiheke. The CAA says as well as problems with the licences, the airline has poor management practices and has failed to complete...
- Bashing - An Auckland businessman's death is being treated as a homicide while police investigate what happened. The man collapsed and died soon after he was attacked by 3 teenagers. The 3 boys, one 15 year old and 2 aged 16, are high school students. All were charged with aggravated robbery when they appeared in the Manukau Youth Court. The teenagers are said to have visited 46 year old Peter Ways...
- Arrest - Police have had some success with their investigation into the death of a 78 year old Auckland pensioner, Hedley Gough. They've arrested a 21 year old and charged him with murder. The victim was found dead in his Waterview home at the beginning of June.
- Reward Offered - Police hunting the killer of 23 year old Marie Jamieson in Auckland earlier this year are offering a reward of up to $50,000. And they say they'll consider immunity against prosecution for any claimant who's not the main offender. Jamieson's body was found dumped beside a factory in the West Auckland suburb of Ranui in February.