News, sport and weather.
Main stories:
Diplomatic relations between France and Australia continued to deteriorate today after Australia’s Consul-General was ordered out of New Caledonia.
The collapse of diplomatic relations between Australia and France over New Caledonia is being closely monitored by the Government here. Like Australia, New Zealand was heavily involved in the South Pacific Forum’s successful bid to include New Caledonia in the United Nations list of territories that should be decolonised, but so far there have been no repercussions against this country. Speaker: David Lange (Prime Minister).
Meanwhile, in the Cook Islands the French and New Zealanders are working alongside each other on storm relief. Cheap loan money from the French is likely to be used to rebuild Government offices in Rarotonga that were shattered by Hurricane Sally. It’s the latest move by the French, who are outpacing New Zealand’s aid effort to the Cooks. Speakers: Gaston Fosse (President French Polynesia), Margaret Shields (Customs Minister).
The first stage of the Government’s ACCESS training schemes for the unemployed started today. It will replace most Government subsidised work schemes. Although the general scheme isn’t planned to start until April, the fist stage, catering specifically to Maori unemployed, has already begun.
New Zealand plans to help Japan towards taking a higher profile in the South Pacific. Prime Minister Lange says New Zealand will act as an interpreter, explaining Japan’s interests to small, and often cautious, Pacific nations. Lange met informally with Japan’s Agriculture Minister today, before talks with the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs.
From the 1st of August Police will no longer attend burglar alarm callouts in the three main centres. Police are handing over that responsibility to security firms to save time and concentrate on other crime, and in future may charge for false alarms they do answer. Speaker: Ken Thompson (Police Commissioner).
Food prices jumped by a monthly average of almost 12% in the three months after GST was introduced.
Greenpeace claims the United States isn’t giving weather information to their Antarctic expedition.
School children in this country have a poorer understanding of mathematics then they did in the 1970s according to a report by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. The report is based on a series of standardised tests done in primary and secondary schools every year, with the biggest decline among third and fourth formers. Speaker: Ian Livingstone (Council for Educational Research).
Europe and the Soviet Union are in the grip of one of the coldest winters on record.
Sport:
The Defender Series Final between Stars and Stripes and KZ7 for the right to challenge for the America’s Cup starts tomorrow. But today the New Zealanders seemed to win the pre-race psychological war. Speakers: Chris Dickson (KZ7), Dennis Conner (Stars and Stripes).
Naenae have won the Rothmans National Bowls Championships.
Australia versus England cricket test match.
Shell Trophy cricket results.
The New Zealand women’s cricket team tours Australia next week. Speakers: Pat McKelvie (Coach), Debbie Hockley (Captain),
Weather.