EYEWITNESS NEWS. 05/06/1985

News, current affairs and weather.

Main stories:
Joe Walding, NZ’s High Commissioner in London and former Labour cabinet Minister, dies.

Firemen’s Union wants independent investigation into health problems suffered by firemen who attended a chemical fire at ICI in Auckland, six months earlier. Concern dioxin is the cause. Interviews: Arthur Monk (Firemen’s Union), Mike Harwood, Willy McDonnell, Larry Jones (firemen).

Protest by Women Against Pornography campaigners against a Lower Hutt pub holding a wet t-shirt competition becomes violent as police intervene.

Commonwealth Games Federation calls on Rugby Union to abandon All Black tour to South Africa. Interview: Roy Dutton.

Indian PM Rajiv Ghandi responds to news that Pakistan is developing nuclear weaponry.

Eyewitness poll on the Timaru by-election shows Labour behind National. Interviews: Jan Walker (Labour), Keith Jackson (political scientist).

Increase in ‘gay bashing’ parallels campaign against the homosexual law reform bill. Self defence course for gay men initiated. Interviews: Neil Costelloe (course founder), Rob Lake (participant), Phillip Peek (participant).